June 11, 2015 meeting: 
There were 20 members present and we heard from Danielle Bento with the Spokane Prevent Suicide Coalition.  She gave told us about risk factors and told us that 91 suicides happened in 2014 in Spokane and 22 veterans commit suicide every day in the US. 


She said warning signs can be remembered by the acronym of FACT:  Feelings ( irritable/sad); Acts (remote/giving away possessions). Changes (in hygiene/school performance) and Threats (could be crisis events that threaten person's stablility such as death of a loved one or relationship break up). 


If we suspect a person is considering suicide, we should approach the person and (1) show we care ("I noticed ____ and this worries me because _____.); (2) ask Are you thinking of suicide -- don't ask if (s)he is thinking of hurting themself because the person may think of suicide as an end of hurting and (3) call either 911 or 211 for emergency services.