The Sanctuary church invites Santa Clarita Valley residents to a Suicide Awareness and Prevention event occurring from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
“America is facing a suicide crisis,” the event’s Facebook page states. “With an increase of 33 percent between 1999 and 2017, suicide rates are at their highest point in 50 years (and) it is now the second-leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 35.”
The church’s awareness event seeks to showcase the local resources available to residents, including programs that are provided by local mental health organizations, such as: Samuel Dixon Family Center, Child and Family Center, Children’s Bureau, Department of Mental Health, National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Evaluation Team.
The event will feature two identical one-hour seminar sessions at 9:15 and 10:45 a.m. that will cover, among other topics, the signs of someone who is at risk for taking their own life.
“Together, we can help change the statistics and bring hope to those who are suffering,” the event’s Facebook page states.
The recommended age for attendees is those who are older than 12, but seating is limited, program officials said.
The event will be held at 26444 Friendly Valley Parkway, Building B, in Santa Clarita.
