Help those who might have ideas of suicide

PORT CLINTON — Laura Miller with Firelands Counseling & Recovery Services of Ottawa County recently presented a training program to community members regarding an initiative known as question, persuade and refer. It's a program designed to assist ordinary citizens in helping a person that may have ideas of suicide. Miller shared the following with audience members: A person's mental health is health. If you are concerned about someone and wonder if he/she is depressed or having suicidal thoughts, it is OK to ask the person about it. Asking someone if he/she is feeling suicidal or having thoughts of killing him/herself won't make the person suicidal, but it will show you care. Asking the person about suicide opens the conversation for hope and linkage to resources such as local crisis resources and 24/7 hotlines. Linking the person to mental health resources can save a life. Anyone can lend a hand and lead someone to the resources and hope a struggling person needs to get help. This training occurred through a partnership between St. John's Lutheran Church in Oak Harbor and the Family Advocacy Center in Port Clinton Three more trainings will occur throughout the year on different topics of interest to the community. People can contact the center, at 419-301-0225, for more information.