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BREAKING THE

SILENCE

Shining a Light on

Oregon's Suicide Crisis

    About    

In April 2019, newsrooms across Oregon joined together to highlight the public health crisis of death by suicide. Our goal with “Breaking the Silence” is to not only put a spotlight on a problem that claimed the lives of more than 800 Oregonians last year, but also examine research into how prevention can and does work and offer our readers, listeners and viewers resources to help if they – or those they know – are in crisis.

 

The media outlets teamed up again in September 2019 to publish another round of stories that coincide with National Suicide Prevention Week.

 

The participating media outlets used a common set of data and have loosely coordinated their coverage in an effort to avoid duplication and better amplify all of our work.

 

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    Stories    

AP

Oregon newsrooms team up to 'break silence' around suicide

THE OREGONIAN

Suicide rates in the mountain West are sky-high; now researchers are asking why

STREET ROOTS

Understanding the connection between eviction and suicide

PAMPLIN MEDIA

'Pushed to their limit'

THE OREGONIAN

Editorial: Breaking the silence on suicide

KGW

Straight Talk: Breaking the silence about suicide in Oregon

THE STATESMAN JOURNAL

Behind the badge: Suicide's toll on police, other first responders

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES

Crisis management: Corvallis volunteer works with text line

OREGON CAPITAL BUREAU

Adi's Act: State invests to save students' lives

ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD

Editorial: Some hope, but troubling numbers, in the fight against youth suicide

KATU

How are Oregon lawmakers addressing youth suicide rates?

MAIL TRIBUNE

Breaking the Silence: Talk about it (Part 1)

MAIL TRIBUNE

Breaking the Silence: Give them hope (Part 2)

JPR

Breaking The Silence: Talking About Suicide

OPB

Think Out Loud: Talking About Suicide

OPB

Morning Edition: Research Shows We Should Talk About Suicide

BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE

Zero suicide: a new approach to an old problem

KGW

Parents offer advice after their teenagers died by suicide

KBND

Breaking The Silence: Suicide Crisis in Rural Oregon

KATU

'Breaking The Silence': Reformed bully now working to be an advocate for kindness

KATU

'Breaking The Silence': Relationship with bullying and suicide is complicated

POYNTER

Here's what it looks like when 30 media entities from one state work together 

OPB

Two Youth Suicides Change A Small Oregon Town

MAIL TRIBUNE

Breaking the Silence: A survivor's story (Part 3)

EAST OREGONIAN

Breaking the silence

KTVL

Law enforcement's tactics change when mental health gets involved

HERMISTON HERALD

Students hope for less silence on suicide

THE OREGONIAN

Opinion: Through profound grief, I chose life

KPTV

South Albany High School takes part in nationwide pilot project on 'mental health first aid'

WILLAMETTE WEEK

As Suicide Rates Soar, an Oregon Republican Crosses the Gun Lobby to Help People in crisis

KOBI

Five on 5: Kristin Fettig – Jackson County Mental Health

PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL

Construction workers are at high risk for suicide. Here's what the industry is doing about it

PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL

Banfield responds to high suicide rates among vets

DAILY EMERALD

Opinion: Resources to help climb the mental health mountain

THE CHRONICLE

How the community of St. Helens is planting a flower to combat suicide

THE CHRONICLE

Local Suicide Prevention Task Force forms to 'talk about it'

THE CHRONICLE

Training opportunities offered to educate the public on mental health intervention skills

OPB

Think Out Loud: Suicide Prevention In Native Communities

KPTV

Forest Grove woman who survived two suicide attempts shares her story to encourage others in criss

KGW

Breaking the Silence: Youthline serves as critical resource for those in need 

OPB

LGBTQ Veterans Face Compounding Mental Health Challenges

EUGENE WEEKLY

Willamette High School Pushes To Support Its Students

PAMPLIN MEDIA

Walking for suicide prevention

SALEM REPORTER

At Youth ERA, Salem teens find peers to talk about mental health, suicide

JPR

Breaking The Silence: Postpartum Suicide Explored

KGW

How Lincoln HS takes a direct approach to prevent teen suicide

KPTV

LOPD officer working full-time on suicide prevention, community outreach

KOIN

Suicide to survival: One man's story of recovery

KTVL

With crisis training, officers can address deeper problems on calls

THE OREGONIAN

After five years with no suicides from Vista Bridge, Portland is considering permanent barriers

HERMISTON HERALD

Opinion: Choose to continue the sentence

HERMISTON HERALD

Opinion: Losses affect students left behind

JPR

Breaking The Silence: Compass Radio

THE OREGONIAN

Opinion: Breaking the silence – now it's our turn

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES

A culture of caring: OSU ramps up resources for students contemplating suicide

KGW

Newburg student's senior project brings awareness to suicide prevention

THE PACIFIC INDEX

Student athletes deal with the pressure of battling stress and depression while not wanting to seem ‘weak’

DAILY EMERALD

Opinion: Let's talk about suicide

KGW

Wyden, Merkley stress importance to fund mental health services, suicide prevention

THE LUND REPORT

Mental Health Workers Considering Suicide Not Alone

THE OREGONIAN

Opinion: Healing after a suicide attempt begins with opening up to others

KTVZ

Bend veteran helps group that helped him

KTVZ

Helping struggling fellow veterans

KTVZ

Battle Buddies offer tail-wagging support

KTVZ

The Shield helps struggling vets

KTVZ

Camp victory workouts change lives

DAILY EMERALD

'Breaking the Silence' around Oregon's suicide crisis in Lane County

KOIN

KOIN podcast: Breaking the Silence

KOIN

Breaking the Silence: Social media and suicide

PAMPLIN MEDIA

Opinion: Talking about suicide can save lives

THE OREGONIAN

Lines for Life honored as nation's most-innovative crisis call center

THE PACIFIC INDEX

RAs face difficult decisions over student resident wellbeing

THE OREGONIAN

Letter from the Editor: Newsrooms are leading a vital conversation about Oregon's suicide problem

THE OREGONIAN 

In Oregon, academic pressures, existential fears help explain rising rates of suicide, mental health conditions

THE STATESMAN JOURNAL

Parents of adults with mental illness seek help

KATU

Portion of Student Success Act must go toward mental health

KGW

How the construction industry is working to prevent suicide

BEYOND WELL PODCAST

Dan Schilling: The Military Mental Health Crisis

BEYOND WELL PODCAST

Ken Cervera, A Brush With Death Informed My Life

KATU

Student-led initiative looks to advocate for mental wellness

THE STATESMAN JOURNAL

Salem-Keizer increases mental health services

KGW

Washougal woodworker spreads message of hope through his words and his art

KATU

Spreading positivity on the air, in the community: 'Smiling could change somebody's day

THE OREGONIAN

Suicide attempt survivors share their stories 'through a lens of hope and recovery' — and art

KPTV

Group in Washington Co. fights to break the stigma around mental illness through art

THE SKANNER

'It's OK to struggle'

THE BEND BULLETIN

Gun owners and mental health professionals aligning on suicide prevention

PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL

VA Portland tackles veteran suicides on a variety of fronts

OPB

Before Oregon’s Suicide Prevention Plan Requirement, Efforts Vary By District

OPB

Washington Requires Schools Have Suicide Prevention Plans, But Doesn't Provide Funding

KATU

Unity Center offers free problem-solving class for parents with struggling kids

KPTV

Salem-Keizer Public Schools adding extra counselors to focus more on mental health

KATU

The science behind kindness campaigns: Studies show they work

OPB

Think Out Loud: Veterinarian Suicides

KGW

'Don't Give Up': Messages of hope pop up in Cowlitz County

CATALYST JOURNALISM PROJECT

Oregon schools failing on suicide prevention

THE PACIFIC INDEX

Students say peers, not teachers, are go-to resource for suicide prevention

PAMPLIN MEDIA

Mental health issues are nothing to kid around about

PAMPLIN MEDIA

Schools gear up for new laws addressing teen mental health

    Partners    

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