West Hollywood acknowledges September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, adhering to a tradition initiated in 2008 on a national level. Throughout this month, the city aims to educate its populace on suicide prevention resources such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, besides encouraging a societal shift in the perception of suicide and mental health issues.
To highlight Suicide Awareness Week from September 11 to 15, 2023, significant landmarks including the West Hollywood City Hall and the lanterns on Santa Monica Boulevard will be illuminated in teal. This initiative is also a gesture of remembrance for individuals who have lost their lives to suicide.
In line with its Community Safety & Well-Being (CSWB) strategy, the city is focusing on mental health and substance use issues, striving to facilitate uninterrupted access to essential services such as counseling and psychiatric assessments. A notable development is the forthcoming West Hollywood Care Team, created in collaboration with the Sycamores organization to enhance the availability of crisis support and services in the region. The team represents a pioneering initiative involving both the city and county to address behavioral health crises through a mobile response program.
Residents undergoing behavioral health crises are urged to dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, operated regionally by Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. The line connects individuals to skilled counselors who can assist in crisis assessment and refer them to appropriate community resources, including mobile crisis response staff for in-person aid, through coordinated efforts involving the LA County Department of Mental Health and the Care Team.
Suicide constitutes a serious concern nationwide, affecting all demographic groups, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The statistics highlight its prevalence as a cause of death among young people and the substantially higher suicide rates among American Indian/Alaskan Native communities, non-Hispanic white individuals, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing the urgency of sustained suicide prevention endeavors in West Hollywood.
For additional details, individuals can reach out to the West Hollywood Human Services Division at the provided contact number.
