RIVERSIDE COUNTY — In the wake of recent high-profile celebrity suicides, behavioral health experts at Riverside University Health System are encouraging community members to educate themselves about resources available to those struggling with feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
On June 5, celebrity fashion designer Kate Spade was found dead in her New York City home. She hanged herself using a scarf tied to her bedroom door knob.
Three days later, Anthony Bourdain, the celebrity star of “Parts Unknown,” was found dead at Le Chambard, a five-star hotel in France. He hanged himself in his hotel room using the belt from a bathrobe.
“The deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain provide all of us with an opportunity to have a conversation about suicide and to learn more about the help and support available to anyone in distress,” Angela Igrisan, deputy director of RUHS Behavioral Health, said in a prepared statement.
Riverside County Health Status Profile for 2018
In Riverside County, deaths by suicide outpace homicides, firearm-related deaths and drug-induced deaths.
Igrisan advises friends and families to listen to their loved ones and to pay attention to sudden changes in behavior or increasing isolation
“Pain isn’t always obvious,” Igrisan said. “There are trained, compassionate people who are here to help. Please, find a link to resources that will help overcome the isolation that often accompanies suicidal feelings”
Save the following information and share it with friends and family.
- 2 – 1 – 1 for referrals for health and social services
- 24/7 HELP Line (951) 686 – 4357 to be connected with mental health resources
- 24/7 Mental health urgent care locations
Riverside – 9990 County Farm Road, Suite 6, Riverside, CA 92503 (951) 509 – 2499
Perris – 85 Ramona Expressway, Suite 1-3, Perris, CA 92571 (951) 349 – 4195
Palm Springs – 2500 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite A4, Palm Springs, CA, 92262 (442) 268 – 7000
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273 – 8255, en Español (888) 628 – 9454
- Send a text to 741741
- Know the signs at www.suicideispreventable.org
Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health encourages everyone to reach out to any friends, family and co-workers who may be having difficulty coping. It’s important to know the signs, find the words and reach out.
