CCMS Medicine Spring 2017 - 21

www.CHESTERCMS.org

and placed on the National Registry of
Evidence-Based Programs and Practices.
Both courses are offered locally at no cost
to participants, and both are supported
by the CCSP Task Force and County's
Department of Mental Health/Intellectual
and Developmental Disabilities.
In addition to teaching basic life-saving
information, these public education
programs are also helping to change the
conversation about mental health and
suicide prevention. They emphasize the
importance of reducing the stigma and
shame around mental health conditions
and suicide, and they give participants the
language to talk about these topics in a
constructive, meaningful way.
When Jimmy Harkins died in 1992,
things were different. People and school
systems were not as informed or equipped
to provide support for suicide loss. While
her son's school had an immediate response
to help the students, Harkins remembers
that it would not entertain the idea of any
type of suicide prevention program later.
"We were fortunate with the support we
received. I know some people had to get
out of their comfort zones to be there for

us, and they did, but still there were people
would walk the other way when they saw
me in the grocery store," Harkins recalled.
"The school counselor was wonderful,
but it was just the philosophy at the time
[to not talk about suicide]. They were
afraid other kids would think about it.
They didn't have evidence-based programs
back then."
Today, most schools are open to suicide
prevention programs. Last fall, the CCSP
Task Force delivered QPR training to more
than 150 secondary school faculty from
the Great Valley School District, as well
as almost 900 ninth grade students in the
West Chester Area School District's three
high schools. West Chester schools have
already seen promising outcomes from
the training, with more students reporting
concerns about their friends, or seeking
help for themselves.
In addition to these efforts, the CCSP
Task Force has held community awareness
events for more than a decade, including
the group's signature Liv Live musical
concerts. But with suicide rates continuing
to rise, the group just took on a strategic
planning process supported by Chester

County's Departments of Health and
Human Services, as well as other local
stakeholder groups. With planning sessions
completed in March, the CCSP Task Force
has a renewed commitment to its cause
of suicide prevention, a refined focus on
priorities, and is actively looking to increase
its membership.
"I feel very hopeful that we can do
something to change the trends and
empower people to help. I also feel like
this is a way to honor Jimmy too," Harkins
said.
If you or your practice would like
information about the free Mental Health
First Aid or QPR courses, visit Chester
County's MH/IDD website at www.chesco.
org/mhidd or contact COAD, which
coordinates Mental Health First Aid classes
in Chester County, at (610) 363-6164.
To find out about the CCSP Task
Force, their events, or how to become
a member, go to their website at www.
chestercountysuicideprevention.com or
visit Chester County Suicide Prevention
Task Force on Facebook.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CCMS Medicine Spring 2017
