This forum was recorded in Downtown Boise on the 12th of September, 2017.
City Club of Boise's guest speakers for this forum include John Reusser, Director of Idaho Suicide Prevention hotline, and volunteer Jennie Rylee.
In 2015, 362 Idahoans died by suicide. Thousands more- maybe even someone you know- are looking for ways to end their pain. Resources for people looking for help have been limited. It was only in 2012 that the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline began, and was finally able to expand to 7 day a week, 24 hour a day availability in 2014. The hotline received about 1,300 calls each quarter in 2016.
Idaho Native and founding Director John Reusser, LCSW, began his career in crisis intervention as a volunteer at the Crisis Clinic of King County in Seattle, becoming a trainer, paid phone worker and phone room supervisor there before returning to Idaho to work on the Region IV IDHW Mobile Crisis Unit and in the St. Alphonsus emergency department. He is a member of the Idaho Council on Suicide Prevention, a board member of the Livewilder Foundation, and Certified ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) Trainer.
Chair: Rachel Winer
Moderator: Nicole Pantera
