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OREGON CITY, Or – In partnership with Clackamas Education Service District, the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Clackamas County’s Youth and Young Adult Action Team, a program of the Clackamas County Public Health Division, has launched an app to share information and resources about preventing youth suicide and promoting mental health. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. among people 5-24.
The app, called Compass to Connection, was inspired by a series of surveys, focus groups, and interviews with people who regularly work with youth and young adults. Through this engagement, community members expressed a need for more guidance navigating complex issues related to youth and young adult mental health. Compass to Connection is now available to download for free on Apple and Google Play stores
“I’ve repeatedly heard from Clackamas County community members that they want an app with local resources that can help them navigate suicide prevention and mental health,” said Clackamas County Suicide Prevention Coordinator Galli Murray. “I’m so excited that our Youth and Young Adult Action Team has put in the hard work to make this possible.”
Compass to Connection serves as a toolkit for youth, young adults, parents and caregivers who are seeking to learn more about:
- Support options available to young people in Clackamas County and the tri-county region
- How to navigate conversations about mental health
- Protective factors, risk factors, and warning signs of a mental health crisis
- Navigating health insurance and Medicaid
- Practicing self-care
The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Clackamas County’s Youth and Young Adult Action Team is a group of youth, young adults and the agencies and individuals who care for and support them. The group primarily aims to increase awareness among youth and adults regarding how to identify others who are struggling and options for connecting them to support.
Youth members of the group led the app creation process by offering insight on its content, design and usability. They are also helping to promote the app by designing promotional materials and having conversations with their peers.
Youth member Kenzie Meyer said through the process, she learned about the power of leadership and collaboration. She said without the incredible and dedicated leaders of the Youth and Young Adult Action Team, who persevered through unexpected challenges and refused to give up during the process, the app would have not been brought to life.
“I hope the app can accomplish change on an individual and community level by playing a role in reducing suicide risk, empowering youth and young adults to utilize community resources and reminding people that we hear you, we see you, you are not alone and help is there for you when you are ready to take that step,” Meyer said.
Clackamas County has also engaged in other innovative suicide prevention efforts, including universal suicide risk screening in county-operated clinics, partnerships with the firearm community to promote secure storage and creation of a Suicide Fatality Review to identify systems issues involved with suicide deaths.