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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.
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News and events
Recognize the signs of suicide and depression. 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.
- Free QPR Suicide Prevention Training on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.at the Rio Community Library at 324 W. Lyons St. in Rio, WI 53960. Open to the public. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer - three steps anyone can use to save a life.
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 at 711 E. Cook Street in Portage, Wisconsin. See map at the bottom of the page and contact us for more information.
Our first annual Sos (signs of suicide) walk for hope WAS A great success!
thank you to Everyone who participated!
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
Or Donate Online:
A special Thanks to our 2013 walk for hope sponsors!
Lodi Community Action Team
BJ's Appliance Center
Clark's Speedway Cafe, one of our sponsors, helped us advertise our Walk for Hope on its marquee.
First Presbyterian Church of Pardeeville
BP North Point Plaza - Poynette
Private Donations from Employees of Columbia County Health and Human Services
Super 8 - Columbus
Elk's Lodge of Portage
Ron and Yvonne Ziegler Dairy
Columbia County Dairy Promotion Committee
Thomas "TJ" Mountford Memorial
Nathan Pieper
Family
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.
At the start of the walk, the names of loved ones lost to suicide were read aloud and balloons with messages were released to the sky. For more Walk photos, please visit us on Facebook.
Prevent Suicide Columbia County would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Columbia County businesses, organizations, and residents for their strong support of our first annual SOS (Signs of Suicide) Walk for Hope. Over 220 residents attended the walk, which took place at the Historic Indian Agency House in Portage on Sunday, September 29, 2013. The event raised over $12,000 to fund our local suicide prevention activities, which include public information campaigns, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training, School Health Summits, suicide prevention tools for healthcare professionals, and educating legislators on mental-health related issues.
Our coalition was delighted to have so many people donate their time and money to support our cause. Forty-five local organizations and individuals sponsored our walk. In addition, we had the help of about forty-eight volunteers from all walks of life: two local musicians who performed live; an art therapist who oversaw creative projects for survivors of suicide loss; thirteen students from Cambria-Friesland High School’s Student Council; representatives of
We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the following people and organizations who sponsored our first annual SOS (Signs of Suicide) Walk for Hope on September 29, 2013. Forty-five local organizations and individuals sponsored our walk. Their contributions totaled nearly $6,400, plus donations of water, milk, and fruit snacks for our Walk participants. Click on the logos below to be directed to their websites.
Columbia County Sheriff's Association
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