Rhode Island has a suicide problem affecting all populations, particularly working age adults. Suicide is the leading cause of intentional injury death in Rhode Island – claiming some 70 lives every year. Annually, there are twice as many suicides as homicides, and as many suicides as car crash fatalities.
Males are more than twice as likely to commit suicide as females, and males commit nearly 80% of all actual suicides. While many people think teenagers or older adults are the most vulnerable, males ages 35-54 are at the highest risk. This is the population whose suicide attempts are most often completed.
“The economic burden of suicide is costing employers millions of dollars in healthcare and social support resources,” said Director of Health David R. Gifford, MD, MPH. “This forum will focus on helping employers manage this challenging issue. Prevention programs can save lives and help to reduce some of the long-term financial impacts on the employer.”
The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) Injury Prevention Program is working to educate employers, clergy, healthcare providers, first responders and other key partners to identify at-risk individuals and get help for them before it is too late. This free forum is open to all Rhode Island employers and anyone else who is interested in attending.
Expert speakers include Dr. Richard Goldberg, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at Rhode Island and Miriam Hospitals and Glenn Miller, Director of Rhode Island Employee Assistance Services. They will discuss suicide prevention and who to call for help. A tool kit will be available that contains advice, tips and resources to assist employers in addressing depression and suicide in the workplace.
This forum will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in George Auditorium at Rhode Island Hospital. To RSVP, contact Lina Alba-Navarro at 401-222-4420 or lina.alba-navarro@health.ri.gov.