Our Depression Reduction Achieving Wellness (DRAW) is a program aimed at reducing the amount of depression and suicide risk in students age 18 and older in Tulare County. With activities in the natural setting of college campuses and vocational schools that began in September 2013, DRAW is funded by the Tulare County Suicide Prevention Task Force with Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63) Prevention and Early Intervention funds.
This program grants free access to licensed grief and bereavement counselors, who provide short-term, high-intensity counseling services to assist anyone in processing their loss to suicide. This program does not involve insurance or an ability to pay. These services are provided free and are confidential.
Our LOSS Team is usually comprised of 2 volunteers; a survivor and a mental health advocate/professional. The team meets with the newly bereaved to offer comfort and resources. The team is usually notified of a suicide loss by the coroner. The first contact with the family is either on scene or via telephone. The goal of our LOSS Team is to connect the survivors of a suicide to resources and hope. You can contact the LOSS Team at sptf@tularecounty.ca.gov.
Have you lost a friend, family member, loved one, or someone close to suicide? Survivors of Suicide Loss is a monthly peer support group to help cope with the ever-changing mix of emotions we must grapple with after losing someone to suicide. Participants are encouraged to share and to discuss their changing feelings while taking the healing journey. Attendees are not required to share but should feel comfortable doing so, as this group strives to be open and supportive.