Suicide Prevention and Addiction - January 2014

"Suicide Prevention and Addiction" was presented on Tuesday January 28, 2014; by Raymond Dalton, MA, CAADC. The prevalence of suicide and suicide attempts among people with alcohol/other drug addictions is significantly higher than in the general population, and the period of early recovery from addiction is especially high risk. Family, friends and peers as well as helping professionals are often in a position to notice potential suicidal thinking and encourage a person contemplating suicide to obtain help. This program raises awareness of the signs of suicidal thinking, and describes ways to offer support and obtain help for people who may be contemplating suicide. Viewers will learn how to recognize suicidal thinking, reach out and offer support to others contemplating suicide, obtain help when suicidal thoughts are present, and access local and national suicide prevention and intervention resources.

Ray Dalton is the Program Coordinator for Dawn Farm Outpatient, Community Corrections and Youth and Family Services. Prior to working for Dawn Farm Ray recruited, trained and supervised volunteer counselors to answer the suicide prevention hotline for the state of Kansas. He received his Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Mary and his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas.

This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.