Nebraska’s Public Policy Center (PPC) is expanding its suicide prevention campaign. The current focus is on rural men in the state. New posters with the message, ‘Live up to a different kind of strength. The strength to ask for help,’ are being placed in local gathering spots. These include coffee shops, co-ops, meatpacking plants, and pesticide training sessions. The materials encourage people to contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by call, text, or chat. The goal is to increase access to help in rural areas.
In the past, Nebraska’s suicide prevention efforts focused on youth and young adults. Recent data from the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center shows that adult men aged 25 to 64 in rural areas are at higher risk. Denise Bulling, senior research director at the PPC, said rural men in Nebraska die by suicide at nearly 2.5 times the rate of men in cities. The rate is 38.6 per 100,000 in rural areas, compared to 16.1 per 100,000 in Lincoln and Omaha.
The PPC’s campaign is in its third year. It is a joint effort with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nebraska Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health Regions, Nebraska Extension offices, and the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition. This fall, the center is promoting suicide prevention during mental health awareness weeks. It also co-sponsored the National LOSS Conference in Nebraska, which supports people affected by suicide…