2023-12-27 06:37:59
A Macoupin County resident who founded an international suicide prevention organization has been elected co-chair of the state’s suicide awareness and prevention effort.
Deb Martin of Girard has worked with the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance since 2019 and served on several committees. The alliance is part of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
She was elected co-chair by other board members.
Martin, a 1991 Waverly High School graduate, created Jared’s Keepers Foundation with Kelsey Neeley Eanes following the death of Martin’s 17-year-old son, Jared, in 2014. The non-profit foundation focuses on teen suicide prevention “by breaking down stigma barriers, education, support and empowerment,” according to its mission statement.
The group in 2016 worked with Tennessee lawmakers and other organizations to enact legislation that requires school districts to develop suicide prevention and intervention programs and requires staff members to receive training.
“I am excited to take on this new role in Illinois and to help lead the collaborative efforts to save lives in our state,” Martin said. “I enjoy working with the staff at [the state health department] and meeting so many professionals across the state with diverse approaches to combating suicide in our communities. My personal goal is to ensure we have everyone’s perspectives shared and respected from our law enforcement and EMS partners to our medical and behavioral health professionals, as well as those with lived experiences.”
Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in Illinois, and the third-leading cause of death in Illinois for those 15 to 34 years old, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
1703665512
#Macoupin #woman #chosen #cochair #Illinois #suicide #prevention #effort
