hope
help
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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
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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.
- Our first annual Dinner for Hope will be on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at Northwoods in Portage. See below for more information!
- Save the Date: Our second annual Walk for Hope will be on Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 1pm at the Historic Indian Agency House in Portage. Stay tuned for more information!
- Support Groups for Survivors of Suicide Loss are now forming locally. Contact us for more information.
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.
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
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
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!
2014 Walk for hope t-shirt design Contest
for students of Columbia County Middle- and High-schools
Prevent Suicide Columbia County is calling all student artists, designers and t-shirt lovers to create a one-of-a-kind t-shirt design for our second annual Signs of Suicide® Walk for Hope on October 4, 2014. Winning designs (one for the front of the shirt and one for the back) will be awarded $100 each, along with a free t-shirt! Submissions are due June 2, 2014. Please click here for more information.
Dinner for Hope
Prevent Suicide Columbia County cordially invites you to attend our first annual Dinner for Hope
Date: Saturday, June 7th, 2014
Place: Northwoods Banquet Hall (N6519 Hwy 51, Portage)
Time: 6pm to 8pm: All-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner with salad, garlic bread, drink, and dessert
5:30pm to 7:00pm: Silent auction
7:00pm: Guest Speaker Dr. Thomas Hayes, Owner, Pauquette Psychological Clinics
Tickets: Before May 15th: $15/adult, $6/children age 4-10; Tickets at the door: $20/adult, $10/children age 4-10. Children age 3 and younger are free.
Tickets can be purchased at the Pauquette Center in Portage, via PayPal (link below, additional $.50 per ticket), or by mail (send a check or money order payable to "CWCAC" and mail to: Prevent Suicide Columbia County, c/o CWCAC, Sara Jesse, PO Box 430, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965. Include the number of adult/child tickets and your return address)
For more information, to buy tickets in person, or to donate a silent auction item, please contact us.
Want to help? Distribute our flyer * invite friends and family * Make a tax-deductible donation(silent auction item or money) * Share on social media
All proceeds to benefit our local suicide prevention efforts
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