suicide

It has been a very tough and tragic week, with the passing of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, and because of their suicides and a report released by the CDC, NAMI ((National Alliance on Mental Illness) El Dorado County is seeing an increase in phone calls from the community.

Suicide rates have been rising in nearly every state, according to the latest Vital Signs report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is the 10th leading cause of death and is one of just three leading causes that are on the rise (behind diseases of the heart and Cerebrovascular diseases).

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 955 calls for the 35 days between February 14 - March 20, 2018.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

2/14 - 17 calls
Warrant in the 1000 block of Johnson

2/15 - 30 calls
Traffic Collision with Injury at Tahoe Keys Blvd and Venice Dr

2/16 - 23 calls
Drunk in Public in the 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 3800 block of Pioneer Trail

2/17 - 34 calls

Like Americans nationwide, Nevadans were more likely to die from heart disease or cancer in 2016 than other causes.

But one cause of death in the Silver State stands out compared with national trends: suicide. The number of suicides increased by 13 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to data provided by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

It's a trend Washoe County's chief medical examiner and coroner, Dr. Laura Knight, has noticed locally.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Department has issued a press release after South Tahoe Now broke the story on November 13 concerning the recovery of two bodies in Fallen Leaf Lake.

Here is an updated statement from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office:

Bruce’s Legacy, an underwater search and recovery team from Wisconsin, came to Fallen Leaf Lake to assist The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office with a deep water search for two missing people.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Tahoe Youth and Family Services announced today that Christopher Croft has officially resigned his position as Executive Director effective November 15, 2017. He has served the communities of South Lake Tahoe, Douglas County and Alpine County in this position since June 10, 2014.

The following 90 businesses took out business licenses with the City of South Lake Tahoe during the month of July, 2017 (spelling of the business names is taken directly from the City's website):

7/3

4-SEASONS DECOR
A STERLING AFFAIR
ARTIST TO YOU - METAL ART
BAKER HOME PRODUCTS
CALVIN LEE CLOTHING STORES
DESERT PARADISE CLOTHING
GERALD DEWEY SALES
HENERY'S NIGHT LIGHTS
PS DESIGN
ROYAL OIL MFG
STEVEN LN PROPERTY
SWEET FEATHER
SWEET JEAN'S NUTTY GOURMET
THOMAS PHOTO ARTS

7/5

4LEAF INC
KOA ARCHITECTS
OUR ART'S DESIRE LLC

7/6

CLASSIC CUT LAWN CARE

September is National Suicide Awareness month and I would like to share part of a talk I have given to the Military.

A SOLDIER WITH PTSD FELL IN A HOLE and couldn’t get out.
A Senior NCO went by and the Soldier with PTSD called out for help. The Senior NCO yelled at, told him to suck it up dig deep & drive on and then threw him a shovel. But the Soldier with PTSD could not suck it up and drive on so he dug the hole deeper.

Barton Health is holding a free lecture, The Signs of Suicide, on Wednesday, September 6 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Lake Tahoe Community College Board Room in South Lake Tahoe.

Alisa Merino of the Suicide Prevention Network will be presenting this important subject during Suicide Prevention Month.

Learn how to identify people who may have thoughts of suicide. Be able to ask directly about the possibility of suicide. Connect people to life-saving resources.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 257 calls between August 21 - 27, 2017.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

August 21 - 28 Calls
Warrant in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd
Trespassing in the 1000 block of Johnson Blvd

August 22 - 36 Calls
Drunk in Public in the 2200 block of Eloise Ave
Drunk in Public in the 1000 block of Johnson Blvd

August 23 - 31 Calls
Warrant in the 1000 block of Johnson Blvd

August 24 - 35 Calls

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 292 calls between August 7 - 13, 2017.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

August 7 - 43 Calls
Suspicious Circumstances in the 700 block of Emerald Bay Rd
Unlicensed Driver in the 4000 block of Lake Tahoe BLvd
Warrant in the 1100 block of Keller Rd
Domestic Battery in the 2900 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
DUI in the 2200 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 2100 block of South Ave

August 8 - 42 Calls
No Arrests

In an average year, the United States will lose 44,000 people to suicide.

It is an unbearable and eye opening statistic, and the Suicide Prevention Network is trying to change that number by offering education and awareness in Douglas and El Dorado Counties, and surrounding communities.

This week, June 4-10, is Community Health Improvement Week. It is a national celebration to recognize the work and efforts of health professionals to improve their community’s health.

One thing you will hear from Barton Health professionals is that improving the health and wellness in our community takes collaboration and commitment. This can be seen in the actions taken in the last two years to address South Lake Tahoe’s most pressing health concerns.

Life isn't always easy and sometimes people just need someone to talk to. Everyone can benefit from some sort of support and it can be as simple as a cup of tea with a friend, a walk around the block or a conversation.

The "You Matter, I Sill Listen" campaign was started last year by Sabrina Owen, manager of El Dorado County Mental Health programs in South Lake Tahoe, to help people be that needed a little support.

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – Mental Health Awareness Month kicks into gear on May 1. Community members and visitors are encouraged to participate in 31 days of challenges, activities, and events to honor their own mental well-being and reduce the misconceptions about mental health.

Local events include:

4th Annual Mental Health Forum
Tuesday, May 9 - 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Student Union at South Tahoe High School

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - Palliative Care is a new medical specialty focusing more broadly on improving life and providing comfort to people of all ages with serious, chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

Learn more about it during the next Barton Health lecture on February 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Tahoe Community College Board Room located at One College Drive in South Lake Tahoe.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) just released their annual report this week, and there was some good news mixed with a fairly surprising fact: For the first time since 1993, Americans’ life expectancy has actually decreased and is now lower than Canada, Germany, France and other developed countries.

The life expectancy of U.S. residents in 2015 declined by 0.1 years to 78.8. While this figure isn't drastic, it is making news since its the first drop in life expectancy in more than two decades.

The 10 leading causes of death in 2015 remained the same as in 2014. Age-adjusted

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of some of the 391 calls the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to between October 18 and October 31, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

10/18
Drunk in Public in the 1000 block of Lakeview Ave
Warrant in the 4000 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

10/19
Stemming from Traffic Collision with injuries in the 2000 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 700 block of Emerald Bay Rd

10/20
Warrant in the 1100 block of Bowers Ave

10/21

When an inmate attempted to take his life earlier this year by throwing himself over a balcony with a makeshift rope around his neck, Detention Facility Deputy Michel Eubanks literally flew to the rescue, bounding up the stairs to make the rescue with the help of three inmate work crew members.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 526 calls between July 26 and August 8, 2016.

7/26
Drunk in Public in the 900 block of Poplar St
Resisting in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

7/27
Warrant in the 3600 block of Spruce Ave
Drunk in Public in the 3000 block of Harrison Ave
Defrauding in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd
Drunk in Public in the 1100 block of Rufus Allen Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 2600 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 236 calls between July 5 and July 11, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

7/5
Spousal Abuse in the 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Domestic Battery in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Spousal Abuse in the 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Violation of Court Order in the 1000 block of 3rd st
Kidnapping in the 900 block of Modesto Ave

7/6
Trespassing in the 1000 block of Heavenly Village Way
Drug Offense in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

An unidentified inmate at the Douglas County Jail in Minden attempted suicide over the weekend by tying a sheet around his neck.

On July 1 at about 2:45 p.m., paramedics were summoned to the jail for an unconscious male. The 49-year-old male was not breathing. Deputies began CPR while the fire department was responding.

The inmate was transported to a local hospital. He has since returned to custody at the DCSO jail. The inmate was in custody for a probation violation originally related to a DUI 3rd offense.

Retired Staff Sergeant Andrew Bachelder, a decorated veteran of Iraq and the ongoing war in Afghanistan, has been added to the American Century Championship field of celebrities for their annual Lake Tahoe tournament July 19-24, 2016.

Bachelder earned a spot by winning the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Warrior Open this past October in Irving, Tex.

The common stressors of everyday life can result in feelings of sadness. But if a person feels sad more days than not and it causes a difference in social, academic, and occupational functioning, it may be signs of a depressive disorder. The day may feel heavy or overwhelming, a person may lose track of time or forget what is important, and things that used to cause joy and pleasure no longer bring happiness. The steps to feel better may seem impossible, but it’s never too late to get support.

Commonly reported signs and symptoms of depressive disorders include:

The third annual Mental Health Forum in South Lake Tahoe today brought together almost 60 people who are dedicated to helping the mental and behavioral health in the community.

Hosted by Barton Health, this year's forum participants shared the progress they've made on strategies for mental health and local service gaps that were generated during the 2015 event.

Jeanne Nelson from the South Lake Tahoe chapter of NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness) was very pleased with the outcome Thursday.