hope
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Our mission
Because we value human life, the mission of Prevent Suicide Columbia County is to prevent suicide through awareness, education, collaboration, and improved access to mental health care.
Join Us
help save a life
News and events
Recognize the signs of suicide and depression. Get trained in QPR-- learn how to "Ask a question and save a life." Find out about community resources. Make a donation. Give hope. Become a partner in preventing suicide.
- Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups are now available locally. Contact us for more information regarding times and locations.
Want to teach QPR? We are hosting an instructor training on January 22 in Portage. Scholarships are available for those who plan to teach QPR in Columbia County. Applications are due January 5, so contact us today!
Prevent Suicide Columbia County meets the third Thursday of each month from 1:00 to 2:30 pm at the Columbia County Law Enforcement Center at 711 E. Cook Street in Portage, Wisconsin. See map at the bottom of the page and contact us for more information.
Member organizations
Along with concerned citizens, members of the following local organizations regularly attend Prevent Suicide Columbia County meetings. Join us! All are welcome.
- Columbia County Health and Human Services
- Counseling Centers: Aspen Family Counseling, Compass Counseling
- School Districts: Cambria-Friesland, Fall River, Lodi, Pardeeville, Portage, Poynette, Wisconsin Dells
- Law Enforcement: Columbia County Sheriff's Department, Lodi Police Department, Portage Police Department
- Hospitals: Columbus Community Hospital, Divine Savior Healthcare
- CESA 5
- Columbia County Board of Supervisors
- Columbia County Veterans Service Office
- Town Boards
- Compared to state averages, Columbia County has higher rates of suicide and suicide attempts.
- In 2012, twelve people died by suicide in Columbia County, an average of one person per month.
- For every death by suicide, there are an estimated 25 suicide attempts.
- 7-15% of suicides in Wisconsin are identified as Veterans
- Adult men are more likely to commit suicide than adult women
Facts about suicide in our County and state
Our Vision
is a suicide-free community where people will recognize the warning signs, intervene, and help individuals find hope.
join our mailing list
Stay up to date on the latest news and information from Prevent Suicide Columbia County. Simply send us and email with "subscribe" as your subject. If you'd like, include in the body of the email your name, organization (if applicable), mailing address, and phone number. Personal information will not be shared with anyone outside of Prevent Suicide Columbia County.
Click here for other crisis lines and resources.
- Suicide is the second most common cause of death after car accidents for Wisconsin youth.
- For middle and high school students, females and minorities are more likely to be depressed, contemplate suicide, and attempt it than males and whites.
- A 2012 survey revealed that within the previous 12 months, 30% of female high school students in Wisconsin reported feeling sad or hopeless for 2 weeks in a row; 17% had seriously considered suicide, and 8% had attempted it.
meeting location
Prevent Suicide Columbia County meets the third Thursday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Columbia County Law Enforcement Center in the community room on the first floor at 711 E. Cook Street in Portage, Wisconsin, 53901.
Get in touch
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A special Thanks to our 2014 walk for hope sponsors!
Super 8 - Columbus
Dianne and Herb Seiler
The family of Nathan Pieper
We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the following people and organizations who sponsored our second annual Walk for Hope on October 4, 2014. Click on the logos of sponsors below to be directed to their websites. There is still time to sponsor this year's event. Please contact us for details.
American Legion Aux. Unit 401
Have you seen our billboards?
Starting March 15, 2014, Prevent Suicide Columbia County billboards will be on display throughout our area as part of Lamar Advertising Company’s Public Service Advertising Program. Thank you to Lamar for their contribution!
Dinner for Hope
Our first annual Dinner for Hope was a wonderful evening! Thank you to all who participated.
About 90 people attended our Dinner for Hope on June 7, 2014. Northwoods put the finishing touches on our spaghetti supper while talented students from the Portage High School choir entertained us. Our silent auction included 37 items from 25 donor families and organizations and raised nearly $1,400. As we finished the evening, Dr. Tom Hayes of the Pauquette Center gave a moving speech about how each of us can make a difference in the lives of others. Our first annual Dinner for Hope raised over $3,900 with the help of a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thank you to everyone who helped make our Dinner a wonderful evening!
All proceeds benefit our local suicide prevention efforts
We were delighted to receive a check in the amount of $5,533 from the Welsh Prairie Livewires 4-H Club in support of our suicide prevention efforts. The funds were raised at their second annual Shamrock Shuffle 5K Run/Walk, which took place on March 8, 2014 in Cambria. Each year, the youth decide which organization should benefit from their run/walk. This year, they chose Prevent Suicide Columbia County.
Sadly, suicide affects Columbia County residents of all ages. The youth decided to donate to our organization because many of them had experienced the loss of a family member, friend, or teacher to suicide. Several of the 4-H youth members and their families attended our Signs of Suicide Walk for Hope last year, where they volunteered, walked, and participated in our balloon release, writing messages to loved ones who had died by suicide, attaching them to balloons, and releasing them to the sky.
A special Thank you to the welsh prairie livewires 4-h club
4-H member Allison Schwark (right) presents facilitator Sara Jesse with a check in the amount of $5,533 at the coalition's June meeting. From left to right in the back row: Morgan Jones, Abbigail Schwark, Owen Jones, and Cheryl Schwark
Prevent Suicide Columbia County thanks the Welsh Prairie Livewires 4-H Club for their outstanding contribution in support of our suicide prevention activities. You have touched our hearts. We are truly impressed with your courage, your fundraising skills, and the dedication of your student and adult volunteers.
Hair Sensations of Portage
Thank you for supporting our second annual walk for hope!
Prevent Suicide Columbia County would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Columbia County businesses, organizations, and residents for their support of our second annual Walk for Hope. Steady rain, wind gales, and unseasonably cold weather kept our event more intimate this year. About 100 residents braved the elements to attend our walk, which took place at the Historic Indian Agency House in Portage on Saturday, October 4, 2014. The event raised over $7,300 to fund our local suicide prevention activities, which include public information campaigns, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training, survivors of suicide loss support groups, and increasing access to mental health services.
Our coalition was delighted to have so many people donate their time and money to support our cause. 29 local organizations and families sponsored our walk. In addition, we had the help of about 25 volunteers, including representatives of the Portage Elks, survivors of
suicide loss along with their families and friends; members of Prevent Suicide Columbia County; local mental health care providers who advertised their services and gave away free gun locks; and community volunteers from the Portage Police Department and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, who helped organize parking and shuttles. Thank you, Columbia County, for making a stand against suicide, and standing with those who have lost a loved one. We can work together to reduce the stigma associated with suicide and depression. The rate of suicide attempts and deaths are higher in our county than state averages (see below for statistics). For more information on how you can partner with us to prevent suicide, please visit our Help Save a Life page. Together, we can achieve our vision: A suicide-free community where people will recognize the warning signs, intervene, and help individuals find hope. Suicide is preventable and suicide prevention is everyone’s business.
For more photos, visit us on Facebook!
Buy a Walk for Hope t-shirt!
Spread the message! Support the cause! Buy a Walk for Hope t-shirt today. 100% cotton, purple t-shirt with white and teal imprint: dove on the front, warning signs on the back. Shipping and handling is included. All proceeds benefit our suicide prevention activities. Use PayPal or send us a check. Thank you!
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