TO: PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE, AND FROM: Sarah Zárate
STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE Jennifer Schembri
Carolina Camarena
SUBJECT: SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY DATE: March 1, 2022
ANNUAL REPORT
Approved Date
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the annual report on the City’s Suicide Prevention Policy for 2021, including an update on the issue of suicide prevention and strategies to further promote the policy.
BACKGROUND
Suicide is a growing public health problem of national scope affecting all ages. To address the county’s local needs, Santa Clara County published a Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan (County’s Strategic Plan) in June 2010.
1 As part of that Strategic Plan, on a fiscal year basis, the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services publishes a Suicide Prevention Annual Report to measure the effectiveness of its Strategic Plan. (See Attachment A for the latest County Annual Report). The Strategic Plan proposes several broad recommendations:
❖ Implement and coordinate suicide intervention programs and services for targeted highrisk populations; ❖ Implement a community education and information campaign to increase public awareness of suicide and suicide prevention;
❖ Develop local communication “best practices” to improve media coverage and public dialogue related to suicide;
❖ Implement a policy and governance advocacy initiative to promote systems change in suicide awareness and prevention; and
❖ Establish a robust data collection and data monitoring system to increase the scope and availability of suicide-related data and evaluate suicide prevention efforts.
On March 3, 2020, the San José City Council established the City Council Policy 0-45 on Suicide Prevention (Attachment B), which provides guidance and information related to City 1 https://www.sccgov.org/sites/bhd/Services/SP/Documents/2018/sp-strategic-plan-rev-03-2011-final.pdf 3/8/2022
PSFSS COMMITTEE: 3/10/2022
ITEM: (d) 3.
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE, AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE March 1, 2022
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
employees, City facilities, and city residents.2 The City Council Policy on Suicide Prevention is in alignment with the County’s Strategic Plan.
ANALYSIS
Council Policy Description
The City of San José continues to implement its City Council Policy on Suicide Prevention, which was established on March 3, 2020. Under the policy, the City promotes strategies and resources provided by Santa Clara County as well as the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, under the following guiding framework:
1. CITY EMPLOYEES. The Administration shares with its current employees and its Retiree Associations (the San José Retired Employees Association and the Association of Retired San Jose Police Officers and Firefighters) information that helps staff and retirees gain a better understanding of the causes of suicide and learn the appropriate methods for identifying and preventing the loss of life.
2. CITY FACILITIES. The Administration ensures that the City’s public safety protocols governing the City’s response to a suicide attempt on City facilities is reviewed annually to ensure all internal procedures are updated and address any needed support for employees that may be witnesses to such events. The Administration further ensures an appropriate communications strategy is in place if a suicide attempt occurs in a City facility by reflecting safe messaging best practices.
3. CITY RESIDENTS. The Administration actively collaborates with the Santa Clara County government to disseminate information including event information and resources as they become available.
4. COORDINATION WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES. The Administration coordinates and collaborates with county, regional and state efforts that advance the goals of the Strategic Plan.
Actions Taken Advancing Council Policy on Suicide Prevention The City completed the following activities during the current reporting period March 2021 – February 2022:
1. CITY EMPLOYEES
▪ Communications was sent to the Mayor and City Council, current employees, and leaders of both retiree associations in May 2021 to support raising awareness about 2 https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=59698
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE, AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE March 1, 2022
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
National Suicide Prevention, as well as the safe storage of firearms among middleaged men who are at greatest risk for suicide by firearm on January 7, 2022 to help improve knowledge and attitudes about mental health and suicide among adults in the community. The communication included links to community resources; ▪ The City Manager included Suicide Prevention information in her September 2021 monthly citywide email, including a video explaining how to save a life; ▪ A communication was sent in September 2021 to the retiree associations’ contacts with information about steps one can take to help save a life.
2. CITY FACILITIES
▪ There are no changes to the City’s Standard Operating Procedures, which was reviewed in February 2022 by Public Works as required by Council Policy. Public Information Officers continue to disseminate information to City staff and the public.
3. CITY RESIDENTS
▪ Social media communications were sent to City residents regarding Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2021;
▪ The City provided several suicide prevention resources in its FLASH REPORT #180 on September 29, 2021 that included links to: a) proclaiming September as Suicide Prevention month, b) resources to support a loved one including how to access the County’s Behavioral Health Services, c) ways to participate in the County’s Suicide Prevention Volunteer Program, and d) Suicide Prevention Resource Center with tips on how to take action to help prevent suicide in the community by sharing stories and empowering others;
▪ Communications to older adults regarding COVID-19 Response and Recovery were sent during Suicide Awareness Month in September 2021;
▪ Between November 2021 to January 2022, the County of Santa Clara started a new public awareness campaign for the safe storage of firearms among middle-aged men who are at greatest risk for suicide by firearm in Santa Clara County. The City disseminated information related to the campaign.
4. COORDINATION WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES
▪ A City representative from the City Manager’s Office joins bi-monthly meetings of the County’s Suicide Prevention Oversight Committee to ensure increased collaboration on activities and messages to San José residents;
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE, AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE March 1, 2022
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
▪ The City of San José has invited Santa Clara County to participate in a joint public meeting focused on firearm safety and its intersection with mental health, intimate partner violence, and substance abuse;
3 ▪ The City Manager’s Office shared the City’s suicide prevention Standard Operating Procedure for facilities with the City of Cupertino.
County’s 2020-21 Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Santa Clara County publishes a Suicide Prevention Annual Report to document its progress implementing the County’s Strategic Plan. The most recent report includes a reporting period of July 2020 - June 2021.
4 It is important to note that while the reporting is for FY 2020-21, the data analyzed is primarily focused through 2019, with some preliminary analysis of 2020 data.
Some highlights of countywide activities are shown in Figure 1. “After a three-year decline from 2014-17, the County’s suicide count and rate increased to 148 deaths (7.6 per 100,000) in 2018 and 169 deaths (8.8 per 100,000) in 2019. The 2019 count and rate represent a 10-year high for the County. Initial 2020 data analysis indicates a count of 164 suicide deaths.5” Of note, the County’s 2019 Suicide Data Observations and Recommendations indicate that:
▪ Increases in suicide occurred amongst older adults and young adults ▪ Highest suicide count was amongst 45-64 age group of white population ▪ Highest rate of suicide was amongst Pacific Islander population 3 https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=9819199&GUID=1C13D215-45C9-4AB0-A857- F15E0E5F4559
4 https://bhsd.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb711/files/2019-20%20SP%20Annual%20Report_final.pdf 5 https://bhsd.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb711/files/2019-20%20SP%20Annual%20Report_final.pdf Figure 1. Highlights from the County's Suicide
Prevention Annual Report
Figure 2. 2015-2019 Suicides in Santa Clara County
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE, AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE March 1, 2022
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
▪ There was a second consecutive year of increase in suicides amongst Black/African American population
▪ Areas with the highest rate include South County, South San José, Campbell, Milpitas, Mountain View, and Alum Rock
▪ Mental health was the leading stressor
Gun Safety
As the City of San José addresses suicide prevention through a set of strategies, it is important to note that firearms are the second most used means for suicide in the County as indicated in Figure 2. Pertinent details of the County’s tracking and assessment indicate that suicide deaths by firearm usage increases by age and is prevalent among Caucasian males as shown in Figure 3.
The County’s Suicide Prevention
Program seeks to prevent suicides
by firearms by reducing access
among County residents through, a)
coordination in the County’s Gun
Safety and Violence Prevention
workgroup, b) advanced access
reduction efforts through public
awareness campaign promoting gun
safety and safe storage among
County firearm owners, and c)
support gun safety efforts through
coordination with the County
Behavioral Health Services Division
(BHSD) social media team.
Figure 3. 2016-2020 Percent Method of Suicide by Age Group
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE, AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE March 1, 2022
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
Between November 2021 to January 2022, the County of Santa Clara started a new public awareness campaign for the safe storage of firearms among middle-aged men who are at greatest risk for suicide by firearm in Santa Clara County. Santa Clara County Public Health Department’s report on firearm injuries noted that 59 percent of self-inflicted suicides accounted for the highest percentage of deaths
from firearm injuries.
In alignment with the County’s
efforts to promote systems change
in suicide awareness and
prevention, and in recognition that
thousands across the United States
die each year by firearm suicide, on
January 25, 2022, the San José City
Council voted to adopt an ordinance
requiring gun owners to have
insurance coverage for their
firearms, and use fees paid by gun
owners to invest in evidence-based
initiatives to reduce gun harm.6
CONCLUSION
Suicide is a major public health concern and an outcome that can often be prevented. Santa Clara County’s Behavioral Health Services established a Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan to reduce and prevent suicides in the County. The City of San José works to actively advance strategies identified in the County’s Strategic Plan through the City Council Policy on Suicide Prevention (Council Policy 0-45) and more recently, through the City Council Gun Harm Ordinance (Ordinance No.# 30716).
6 https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=10408009&GUID=959CCD88-3C60-453C-820E8212991AA097 Figure 3 2016-2020 Percent Method of Suicide by Race
Figure 4. 2016-2020 Percent Method by Suicide by Race/Ethnicity
PUBLIC SAFETY, FINANCE, AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMITTEE March 1, 2022
Subject: Suicide Prevention Policy Annual Report
COORDINATION
This memorandum was coordinated with the Public Works Department, City Attorney’s Office, and the City Manager’s Budget Office.
/s/ /s/ /s/
SARAH ZARATE JENNIFER SCHEMBRI CAROLINA CAMARENA
Director of Administration,
Policy, and
Intergovernmental Relations
Director of Employee
Relations and Director of
Human Resources
Director of Communications
For questions, please contact Nora Chin, Assistant to the City Manager, at [email protected].
Attachments
Attachment A: 2020-2021 Suicide Prevention Annual Report, County of Santa Clara Attachment B: City of San José’s Suicide Prevention Policy