ALLENTOWN, P.A. – This morning, Congresswoman Susan Wild joined Pinebrook Family Answers CEO Bill Vogler, Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong, and Pennsylvania State Representative Mike Schlossberg to announce federal grant funding received by the Suicide Prevention Coalition. This investment was secured by Congresswoman Wild through Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding and will allow the Suicide Prevention Coalition to establish a Local Outreach for Suicide Survivors (LOSS Team), made up of volunteers who have previously dealt with death by suicide and will be trained to provide support to families in the immediate aftermath of the suicide of a loved one.

“I’m proud to have advocated for this investment in the Suicide Prevention Coalition, one that will fill a crucial gap in the work to prevent and respond to tragedies of suicide in our community,” said Congresswoman Susan Wild. “I’m grateful for the work of Pinebrook Family Answers and the Suicide Prevention Coalition in shining a light on this crisis and giving voice to those close to the pain of suicide, and I’ll continue working to bring investments in suicide prevention home to the Lehigh Valley.”

This grant will allow the Suicide Prevention Coalition to hire full-time staff, including a project manager and project assistant. Primarily, the grant will fund the establishment and training of a Local Outreach for Suicide Survivors (LOSS Team) will volunteers who have previously dealt with death by suicide in their own lives. The LOSS Team will provide on-the-ground support to families grieving in the immediate aftermath of the suicide of a loved one, a tragedy that is too often misunderstood. The grant will also provide for the implementation of a comprehensive suicide awareness communication plan and media campaign.

“This funding will make a significant difference in our efforts to save lives and support Lehigh County families as they cope with the tragedy of suicide,” said Bill Vogler, CEO of Pinebrook Family Answers. “Pinebrook Family Answers is extremely grateful to Congresswoman Wild for her courageous and effective leadership on this issue, and we look forward to working with all the other people and organizations that are coming together to get this done.”

This grant funding was secured by Congresswoman Wild through the FY23 Community Project Funding program and was officially funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services. Pinebrook Family Answers received the official HHS Notice of Award in August 2023.

“As we recognize Suicide Prevention Month, we need to acknowledge that the United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis, one magnified by the global pandemic,” said Pennsylvania State Representative Mike Schlossberg. “But this crisis existed before the pandemic. As we have succeeded in encouraging people to seek help, we have uncovered another challenge: the need for more services and resources for better mental health care. I am grateful for the partnerships working to prevent suicides in Lehigh County who help to inspire hope for those struggling with mental health. This work helps to reinforce that every time we speak about suicide, we send a message: Your life is valuable, it has meaning, and hope and help is here for you.”

Suicide Statistics in Lehigh County

• The Lehigh Valley has seen an increase in suicides among young adults (ages 19-28). Between 2005 and 2017, Lehigh County suicides increased 36% while the population only increased 9.0%. Lehigh County suicides have grown at a rate nearly triple that of the county population.
• In 2020 Lehigh County suicide deaths increased 22%, while nationally, suicides were down by 5.6%.
  • In 2020, Black and Hispanic deaths by suicide increased 100% and 500%, respectively, compared to a 17% and 14% nationally.
• The 2021 Pennsylvanian Youth Survey of Lehigh County students indicate in the past 12 months…
  • 37% of 10th graders and 35% of 12th graders felt depressed.
  • 23% of 10th graders & 20% of 12th graders considered suicide,
  • 13% of 10th graders & 10% of 12th graders attempted suicide.
  • Currently, 54.3% of Lehigh County is between the ages of 18 and 64; this cohort has our highest rate of suicide by age group consistently since 2011.

About Pinebrook Family Answers

Pinebrook Family Answers’ mission is to transform lives across generations by nurturing healthy children and strong families, supporting seniors, empowering individuals, and strengthening the Greater Lehigh Valley. Their goal is to help all types of families become healthy and flourish by providing services and programs to overcome challenges and succeed in daily living, through initiatives that promote safety and diversity, mitigate the impact of trauma, and facilitate self-sufficiency while connecting people with community partners.

Last year, Pinebrook Family Answers assisted 4,756 unduplicated clients and impacted an addition 11, 947 family and community members, for a total impact number of 16,703 individuals.

About the Suicide Prevention Coalition

SPC’s mission is to save lives by reducing suicides in Lehigh County. The Suicide Prevention Coalition strives to include representatives of the community we serve and give a voice to those who live closest to the pain of suicide. The Suicide Prevention Coalition (SPC) of Lehigh County is a collaborative organization that supports social service organizations, communities and other groups concerned about the rising number of deaths by suicide.

The Coalition is made of up a 16-member Steering Team that supports two Action Teams Prevention & Intervention and Awareness & Engagement. The Steering Team members include Coroner, Lehigh County Mental Health and The Department of Human Services, Allentown Police Department, NAMI, the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Allentown Health Bureau, Allentown Dept. of Economic Development, AFSP Eastern Regional Co-chair, St. Luke’s Health Network, and Lehigh Valley Health Network, and the CEO of Pinebrook Family Answers.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Katie Smith