Hosts Kelsi Wilmot and Tyler Townsend welcome Lee Ann Lindroth, Director of Integrated Care and Prevention at Hill Country MHDD Centers, for National Suicide Awareness Month to discuss suicide as a preventable public health issue and why everyone has a role in prevention.
Lee Ann shares her background and wide-ranging responsibilities, then explains how to talk to someone at risk: ask directly about suicide, don’t leave them alone, and increase distance from lethal means (medications, firearms). Tyler shares lived experience with suicidal ideation and the “anchors” that helped him stay. They review statistics (48,824 U.S. deaths; 4,490 in Texas; higher rates in the Hill Country region), warning signs, and high-risk factors, including ages 35–45 and firearm involvement. Resources include 988, 988lifeline.org, Hill Country’s 24/7 line (877-466-0660), and trainings like ASK, Mental Health First Aid, ASIST, and CALM, plus guidance on saying “died by suicide” instead of “committed suicide.”
Key highlights:
- How to Ask About Suicide
- Suicide Awareness Month Focus
- Means Safety and Time Buffer
- Personal Anchors and Lived Experience
- Suicide Warning Signs
- Surviving an Attempt
- Crisis Resources: 988
Resources: