Panel looks at suicide risk factors

PONDERAY — Risk factors of suicide can be found in any community and a local task force is breaking down what they can do to help prevent more suicides.

The Community Suicide Prevention Task Force, headed by Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Shawn Woodward, looked at whether the common risk factors found in hundreds of studies on suicide are an issue in the community and if they are, how to attack the problem. Woodward said about 30 community members attended the meeting Jan. 21, including counselors, board members, students, parents, staff, healthcare, law enforcement, clergy and judicial officials.

The meeting centered on the known protective and risk factors for suicide. Woodward said hundreds of studies have been done on suicide in the U.S., which look at everything from per capita suicide attempts or completions to the factors in the community that may have affected the rate.

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