Suicide Rapid Response Program
Mission
Suicide Rapid Response helps Oregon’s communities heal from youth death by suicide, while limiting and containing risk of further harm by partnering with experts in the field to provide direct education, support, and resources.
As of 2022, suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among people ages five to 24.
Program Summary
Lines for Life’s Suicide Rapid Response (SRR) program is led and coordinated by the organization’s Prevention Team in conjunction with community service providers. These services are paid for by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). SRR offers support and services to communities who have been impacted by the loss of a youth to suicide, ages 24 or younger.
Want to learn more about SRR? Please email Katrina Doan, SRR Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or [email protected].
If you are a community experiencing a youth suicide loss, please reach out to your county’s Postvention Response Lead (PRL). You may find your county’s PRL’s contact information here.
Quick Guide to the Rapid Response Program
The Quick Guide to the Rapid Response Program outlines the program’s streamlined approach to better serve communities in a timely and efficient manner.
Services
SRR is collaboratively designed to include evidence-based best practices that are monitored, evaluated, and responsive to community needs.
Examples of possible services include:
- Grief support: This may include counseling, listening sessions, and education/training facilitated by one of our subcontractors and vendors.
- Community awareness: We partner with our subcontractors/vendors to organize community wellness events to connect communities with grief, suicide prevention, and postvention resources.
- Outreach: We provide suicide prevention outreach services, such as classroom and community presentations. In addition, we distribute resource materials, such as brochures, grief journals, and stickers; and boost social media posts to provide hope and promote services to impacted communities.
- Financial assistance. Some impacted families may be eligible for financial assistance to assist with costs related to funeral/memorial and remediation services.
Community Partners
The Rapid Response program may work with one or more of the following providers to coordinate services for the community:
The Dougy Center
Dougy Center is a Portland-based nonprofit offering grief support for children, teens, young adults, and families. Their pioneering peer grief support model, professional training, and world-renowned programs and advocacy bring hope and healing around the world.
During a response, Dougy Center may provide grief toolkits, handouts, or resource guides for schools and parents, helping people understand how children specifically grieve and what to look out for. They may also provide grief training and consultation to school counselors and community providers, and grief support to families and community as needed.
Oregon Healing Collective
Oregon Healing Collective is a Springfield-based practice that takes an anti-colonial, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed approach to mental health practice. Their therapy services specialize in suicide prevention and the impacts of climate change on mental health.
Lines for Life works with Oregon Healing Collective to provide grief counseling for families, community, and school members, and can also provide mental health counseling for youth and community members activated by the community loss, as needed. Oregon Healing Collective may facilitate grief support groups at impacted schools.
African Youth & Community Organization (AYCO)
AYCO’s mission is to settle the past, engage the present, and hope for the future.
Founded in 2009, the African Youth & Community Organization (AYCO) is a culturally specific, community-based nonprofit organization led by and for the East African immigrant and refugee community in the Portland Metropolitan Area.
Infinite Healing Solutions
Infinite Healing Solutions’ mission is to develop, deliver and disseminate research-based programs addressing the physical, emotional, social and spiritual elements to strengthen individuals, families and to increase accessibility for every community in Central Oregon.
Central Oregon Bio Solutions
Central Oregon Bio Solutions is a Biohazard Cleanup business based in Bend, Oregon. Central Oregon Bio Solutions exists to bring a personal and caring approach to incredibly difficult circumstances. Whether the situation involves a trauma scene, unattended death, suicide, animal feces, or even a hoarding situation, Central Oregon Bio Solutions will provide outstanding and discreet service. In most cases involving biohazard, insurance will cover the cost of the cleanup.
Interested in offering your services and becoming a SRR subcontractor/vendor?
Fill out this form!
YouthLine
YouthLine is a teen-to-teen help, support, and crisis line answering calls, texts, and chats from anyone 21 or younger. Trained teen volunteers support youth on the helpline, facilitate classroom education, and de-stigmatize reaching out for help with mental health.
Suicide Rapid Response supplies schools and communities with materials directing youth to the helpline and may also work with YouthLine to provide classroom education sessions in suicide prevention.
A Partnership with Oregon Health Authority