Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention, Awareness & Support
Hope. Help. Connection.
Suicide is preventable. Help is available, and no one has to face a difficult time alone.
Suicide affects individuals, families, schools, workplaces, and communities across the Nebraska Panhandle. Talking openly about mental health, recognizing warning signs, and knowing where to find support can help save lives.
Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD), in partnership with the Panhandle Prevention Coalition (PPC) and community organizations, works to increase awareness, reduce stigma, strengthen connections, and provide suicide prevention education throughout the region.
Our goal is to help create communities where people feel supported, comfortable asking for help, and confident reaching out when someone else may be struggling.
Need Help Now? Call or Text 988
Free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, or a mental health crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is here to help.

• Call or text: 988
• Chat online: 988lifeline.org
• Veterans and service members: Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
• Spanish-language support: Call 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988.

You do not have to be thinking about suicide to reach out. The Lifeline is available for anyone experiencing emotional distress or concerned about someone else.
If someone is in immediate physical danger or needs emergency medical assistance, call 911.
Understanding Suicide and Its Impact
Suicide is a serious public health concern that affects people of all ages and backgrounds.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 48,824 people died by suicide in the United States in 2024. Millions more experienced suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide.
People living in rural communities may face additional challenges when seeking help, including limited access to mental health services, transportation barriers, and concerns about privacy or stigma.
Suicide is complex and rarely has a single cause. Mental health conditions, stressful life experiences, isolation, substance use, and other challenges may contribute to risk.
However, supportive relationships, access to care, a sense of belonging, and knowing how to ask for help can make a meaningful difference.
Explore Current Suicide Statistics from the CDC
Recognizing the Warning Signs
Knowing what to look for can help you recognize when someone may need support.
Warning signs may include:

• Talking about wanting to die or feeling hopeless.
• Feeling trapped, overwhelmed, or like a burden to others.
• Withdrawing from friends, family, or usual activities.
• Significant changes in mood, behavior, or sleep.
• Increased use of alcohol or other substances.
• Giving away important belongings or saying goodbye.
• Taking unusual risks or acting recklessly.

Not everyone shows the same warning signs. Take any talk of suicide seriously.
If you're worried about someone, reach out. Ask how they're doing, listen without judgment, and help them connect with support.
Asking someone directly whether they are thinking about suicide does not put the idea in their head. It can open the door to an important conversation.

Suicide Prevention Education and Programs

QPR: Question. Persuade. Refer.
Three simple steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide.
QPR is an evidence-based suicide prevention training that teaches participants how to recognize warning signs, start a supportive conversation, and connect someone who may be at risk with appropriate help.
Just as CPR teaches people how to respond to a medical emergency, QPR provides practical skills for responding to someone experiencing a suicidal crisis.
What You'll Learn

• How to recognize warning signs of suicide.
• How to ask someone directly about suicidal thoughts.
• How to listen and respond with compassion.
• How to encourage someone to seek help.
• How to connect someone with appropriate resources and support.

Who Can Participate?
QPR is designed for anyone who wants to make a difference, including parents, educators, community members, employers, healthcare professionals, and faith-based organizations.
Training Details

• Length: Approximately 60–75 minutes.
• Format: Virtual webinars or in-person group training.
• Cost: Free.

PPHD offers QPR training opportunities and can help arrange training for community groups, schools, worksites, and organizations throughout the Nebraska Panhandle.
Interested in QPR training?
Contact Cheri Farris at cfarris@pphd.ne.gov or 308-220-8020.

Hope Squad: Building Connections and Supporting Youth

Students helping students. Schools building hope.
Hope Squad is a school-based, peer-to-peer suicide prevention program that promotes connection, kindness, mental wellness, and help-seeking among young people.
Students are nominated by their classmates as trustworthy peers and receive training and guidance from adult advisors.
Hope Squad members learn to recognize when a fellow student may be struggling and how to connect them with trusted adults and appropriate support.
Hope Squad Helps Schools:

• Build a culture of kindness, belonging, and inclusion.
• Encourage positive peer relationships.
• Reduce stigma surrounding mental health.
• Increase awareness of warning signs.
• Promote help-seeking and connections to trusted adults.
• Strengthen schoolwide suicide prevention efforts.

PPHD supports schools interested in implementing Hope Squad by providing information, training assistance, and connections to available resources.
Interested in bringing Hope Squad to your school?
Contact Panhandle Public Health District at 308-633-2866.
Mental Health First Aid
Learn how to recognize, understand, and respond to mental health challenges.
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training that teaches participants how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges and provide appropriate support.
Just as traditional first aid teaches people how to respond to physical health emergencies, Mental Health First Aid provides tools for responding to mental health concerns.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches adults how to support young people ages 12–18 who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis.
This training is especially valuable for:

• Parents and caregivers.
• Teachers and school staff.
• Coaches and youth leaders.
• Healthcare and human service professionals.
• Community members who work with young people.

Participants learn how to recognize signs of a potential mental health challenge, listen without judgment, offer reassurance, and connect youth with appropriate professional support.
Adult Mental Health First Aid
Adult Mental Health First Aid focuses on recognizing and responding to mental health and substance use challenges among adults.
Both trainings help participants build confidence in supporting someone who may be struggling.
Training Information

• Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid opportunities may be available.
• Training includes instruction, discussion, and practical skill-building.
• Some courses include online preparation before instructor-led training.
• Cost: Free through PPHD-sponsored training opportunities.

For more information, contact:
Nicole Berosek
Email: nberosek@pphd.ne.gov
Phone: 308-279-3496
Learn More About Mental Health First Aid

Community Awareness and Support
My Ascension Documentary
A powerful story of hope, recovery, and the importance of reaching out.
My Ascension shares the story of Emma Benoit, a young woman who survived a suicide attempt and became an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Through Emma's personal experiences and insights from families, educators, and prevention professionals, the documentary encourages meaningful conversations about mental health, recovery, and the importance of connection and support.
PPHD and community partners help coordinate documentary screenings and facilitated discussions in communities throughout the Nebraska Panhandle.
Screening Information

• Film length: Approximately 90 minutes.
• Community screenings may include a panel discussion.
• Available for schools, organizations, and community groups by arrangement.
• Cost: Free for our partners across the Panhandle

The film includes discussion of suicide and may be emotionally difficult for some viewers. Organizers are encouraged to provide appropriate support resources.
Interested in hosting a screening?
Contact Nicole Berosek at nberosek@pphd.ne.gov or 308-279-3496.

Community Hope Walks
Walking together. Supporting one another. Sharing hope.
Community Hope Walks bring people together to raise awareness about suicide prevention, remember loved ones, support individuals and families affected by suicide, and encourage open conversations about mental health.
These events provide opportunities to connect with neighbors, learn about available resources, and remind one another that support is available.
PPHD helps coordinate community walks in Alliance and Oshkosh and supports awareness efforts in other Nebraska Panhandle communities.
Community walks are often held in September as part of Suicide Prevention Month, with event dates and locations announced as they become available.

September Is Suicide Prevention Month
Every September, PPHD and the Panhandle Prevention Coalition join communities across the country in recognizing Suicide Prevention Month.
Throughout the month, we encourage individuals, families, schools, workplaces, and organizations to take action by:

• Learning the warning signs of suicide.
• Sharing information about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• Participating in suicide prevention training.
• Supporting community awareness events.
• Reaching out to people who may be struggling.
• Helping create welcoming, connected communities.

Suicide prevention is everyone's responsibility, and even small actions can make a difference.
How You Can Help Prevent Suicide
You don't need to be a mental health professional to offer hope and support.
1. Start the Conversation
Check in with friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors. Ask how they're really doing and make time to listen.
2. Listen Without Judgment
Let someone know you care. Avoid minimizing their feelings or trying to solve everything for them.
3. Learn the Warning Signs
Recognizing changes in behavior or expressions of hopelessness can help you respond sooner.
4. Connect People With Support
Encourage professional help when needed. If someone is in crisis, call or text 988 together. If there is immediate danger, call 911.
5. Get Trained
Participate in QPR or Mental Health First Aid to build your confidence and skills.
6. Help Build a Connected Community
Support kindness, inclusion, and opportunities for people to feel valued and connected.
Get Involved
Panhandle Public Health District welcomes opportunities to partner with schools, community organizations, workplaces, faith-based groups, and individuals who want to strengthen suicide prevention efforts across the Nebraska Panhandle.
Whether you're interested in hosting a training, organizing an awareness event, or bringing prevention education to your community, we're here to help.
Together, we can build communities where people feel connected, supported, and hopeful.
Contact Panhandle Public Health District
QPR Suicide Prevention Training
Cheri Farris
cfarris@pphd.ne.gov
308-220-8020

Mental Health First Aid, Documentary Screenings, and Community Awareness
Nicole Berosek
nberosek@pphd.ne.gov
308-279-3496

Suicide Loss Support
Finding Comfort, Connection, and Hope After Suicide Loss
Losing someone to suicide can bring a wide range of emotions, including sadness, confusion, anger, guilt, and unanswered questions. Grief after suicide loss can be especially complex, and it may be difficult to find others who understand what you're experiencing.
You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD), in partnership with the Panhandle Prevention Coalition (PPC), offers Coping with Suicide Loss Support Groups to provide a safe, welcoming space for individuals who have lost someone to suicide.
These groups bring people together to share experiences, find understanding, and support one another through grief.
Coping with Suicide Loss Support Groups
A place to connect, share, remember, and heal.
Our suicide loss support groups are designed to offer comfort, connection, and understanding in a confidential, nonjudgmental environment.
Group facilitators have also experienced the loss of someone to suicide. They understand that grief is personal, that there are no easy answers, and that everyone moves through loss differently.
What Can You Expect?

• A welcoming and supportive environment.
• Connection with others who have experienced suicide loss.
• Opportunities to share feelings, experiences, and memories.
• Compassionate support from trained facilitators with lived experience.
• Discussions about grief, coping, and finding hope.
• Respect for each person's individual grieving process.

You are welcome to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable sharing. There is no pressure to speak, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
Facilitators may introduce discussion topics, reflection activities, or optional journaling exercises. These groups are not formal classes or counseling sessions. They are opportunities for people with shared experiences to support one another.
To help create a trusting environment, participants are asked to respect each other's privacy and keep personal stories shared during meetings confidential.
Who Can Participate?
Suicide Loss Support Groups are available to Nebraska Panhandle residents age 19 and older who have experienced the loss of someone to suicide.
Whether your loss was recent or happened years ago, you are welcome.
You do not need to have attended a support group before, and there is no expectation that you will be at a particular stage in your grief.
In-Person Suicide Loss Support Group

• When: Every other Thursday
• Time: 6:30–7:30 p.m. Mountain Time.
•  Location: 1517 Broadway, Scottsbluff, NE
• For more information, reach out to Susan at: 308.631.4627 or sywhit63@gmail.com

Interested in Joining a Group?
We warmly welcome new participants.
Register for a Suicide Loss Support Group
PPHD and PPC continue working to expand suicide loss support opportunities throughout the Nebraska Panhandle.
Additional Resources for Suicide Loss Survivors
Support is available beyond group meetings. The following organizations offer information, encouragement, and resources for individuals and families grieving a suicide loss.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential emotional support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Visit 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 whenever you need emotional support or help during a crisis.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Offers educational resources and guidance for people coping with the loss of someone to suicide.
Resources for Survivors of Suicide Loss
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Provides resources, healing opportunities, and connections for individuals and families affected by suicide loss.
I've Lost Someone
Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors
Offers online support, information, and connection with others who understand the unique challenges of suicide loss.
Visit Alliance of Hope
You Are Not Alone
Grief does not follow a timeline, and healing looks different for everyone.
Some days may feel manageable, while others may feel overwhelming. Finding people who understand your experience can provide comfort, connection, and reassurance along the way.
You deserve support, understanding, and a place where your story can be heard.
Questions or Need More Information?
If you would like to learn more about suicide loss support groups, upcoming meetings, or additional resources, please contact:
Panhandle Public Health District
Phone: 308-220-8020
PPHD and the Panhandle Prevention Coalition are committed to helping individuals and families affected by suicide loss find connection, compassion, and support.

Together, We Can Build Communities of Hope
Suicide prevention and support are shared community efforts.
Through education, awareness, compassionate conversations, and meaningful partnerships, PPHD and the Panhandle Prevention Coalition work to strengthen connections and make support more accessible throughout the Nebraska Panhandle.
Whether you're seeking support, concerned about someone you care about, or interested in becoming involved in prevention efforts, your willingness to connect can make a difference.
Together, we can create communities where people feel valued, supported, and never alone.
For information about suicide prevention programs, training opportunities, community events, or available resources, contact Panhandle Public Health District at 308-220-8020.
Need immediate emotional support? Call or text 988, anytime, day or night.

Additional Resources

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• CDC Suicide Prevention
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Mental Health First Aid
• QPR Institute
• Hope Squad

Remember: Help is available. Hope is possible. You are not alone.