Since we have been working with the suicide Prevention Programs in Oklahoma, I want to give you some statistics for this state. Please keep the following in mind as you review them.
The typical pathologist can only rule a death suicide if there is an actual suicide note and since study show that only one in five suicides leave a note this means many deaths that are possible suicide are being ruled suspicious or undetermined.
Oklahoma only has one Chief Medial Examiner, he is the only one with the authority to investigate and determine a suspicious death to be suicide. Since he is only able by himself to review less than 50% of the suspicious deaths in Oklahoma that means that over 50% of the suspicious deaths go uninvestigated.
Howard has been busy with QPR trainings. In March he was invited to train the board members and the volunteers of the Pregnancy Support Center in Anadarko. They were very appreciative to receive the training. Anadarko is considered to be the Indian Capital of the World.
In May we traveled to Miami Oklahoma to the Quapaw Tribe. Howard led two days of QPR training. The people that attended came from many different professions, including police officers and health care professionals. It was great to see so many interested in helping their community battle suicide. We are excited to see first responders being trained in QPR.
[Just some facts I found interesting about the Quapaw Tribe. The name "Quapaw" is a derivative of the tribal term Ugakhpa, meaning "down stream people." These people belong to the Dhegiha subdivision of the Sioux. It is believed that this group originally resided in the Ohio Valley. The tribe left this region following the Ohio River downstream to the Mississippi River and eventually to the land which is now Arkansas. This is where the Quapaw stayed until they were pushed out by Euro-Americans several hundred years later. . They split into the tribes known today as the Quapaw, Osage, Ponca, Kansa, and Omaha when they left the Ohio Valley.
Arkansas is also named after the Quapaw. In the mid 1600's the French explores, Marquette and Joliet, when traveling down the Mississippi used the Illini Indians as their guides. The guides referred to the Quapaw tribe as "Akansea" - People of the South Wind. This was the name the Illini Indians had given them in their own language, and that was how the French had written it down on their maps.]
Howard also was invited to the Native American Methodist Conference in Oklahoma City to do the QPR Training. With the growing epidemic of suicides in Oklahoma many are recognizing the need for tools of intervention. This was one of the largest training classes Howard has had to date. The district superintendent said "this was the largest turn out they have had in quite some time for their annual continuing education course.
This group was very interested in suicide intervention and prevention methods. We were surprised at the willingness to discuss the subject and the multitude of questions that they had .It seemed their interest level was very high, we are not sure if it is because they are Pastors or because they have seen the devastating effects of suicide in their communities. One thing is for sure, Christians are not exempt from the tragedy of suicide. Several of the church leaders are interested in having their staff and lay persons participate in a QPR Training.
Howard and I attended an ASIST Training Program, which is a suicide intervention program. ASIST stands for Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. The Asist training is a more in depth intervention program. We were trained to listen to invitation and to work with someone who has a suicide plan, to intervene and be sure they get the help they need.
Howard has a desire to go to an ASIST Trainers Program so he will be equipped to train for ASIST also. The more people that are trained in either program the more opportunity for lives being saved from suicide.
Some of the folks who helped do the work.
As reported in earlier newsletters Cedar Creek undertook a huge remolding program last year. Cedar Creek officially dedicated all the remolding and equipment to the Lord in May. It was a time to thank the Lord for all His provisions which included the people who worked so diligently to accomplish the project. Howard was blessed as they honored him for managing the project in their typical Native American way; they gifted him with a beautiful Pendleton blanket. Afterward we had a feast in the dinning hall, thanking our Lord for all that He does.
Howard had his 3rd eye surgery on May 19 . The Doctor said the surgery went well, however he did have to remove Howard's lens so that he could find and remove the last 5% of the silicone gel. In 6-8 weeks he will have a new lens inserted. Praise God there was no pain this time!
Father I thank you that Your Word speaks and your word is alive and full of power, I thank you that Your word is active, operative, energizing and effective and Your Word is sharper than any two edged sword, penetrating to our very soul and spirit to the deepest parts of our nature, Father I thank you that your Word exposes, sifts, analyzes the very thoughts and purposes of our hearts. Father help us to believe Your Word , obey Your Word, and enter into Your rest Father, that we might see, taste, and touch the fullness of Heb. 4:12 Amen!
Important Dates/Events to Remember
2Thess. 2:16-17
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