Breaking the Cycle of Youth Suicide in Howard County
Youth Suicide Prevention Program Uses Multiple Tactics to Help Save Lives
Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24 in 2017. In Howard County, suicide was the leading cause of death for youth ages 15-19 between 2014-2016. According to the Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 1 in 6 high school students and 1 in 5 middle school students have “seriously considered attempting suicide”.
On February 28, 2019, County Executive Ball and the Howard County Health Department announced a plan to reduce youth suicide in Howard County. Strategies include increasing awareness and reducing the stigma around suicide/mental health, educating the community about how to recognize risk factors and warning signs, demonstrating how to talk to someone about suicide, and linking youth to appropriate resources. The evidence-based plan, accompanied by an “It’s OK to Ask” outreach campaign, encourages both youth and adults to talk openly about suicide and suicide prevention.
Health Department staff will be working in the community to provide specialized presentations and training for those who would like to bring Youth Suicide Prevention Program components to their organizations and groups. A Teen Mental Health Ambassador program will be implemented in high schools throughout the county. 
“It’s OK to Ask” campaign materials, additional information, resources and training are available at teenhealthmatters.org, or by contacting Kayla Blasher, Health Department Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator at 410-313-6240.
If you, or someone you know is in crisis, contact:
- Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center 24/7 at 410-531-6677 or
- text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line)
Learn suicide warning signs and get tips about how to start a conversation by visiting teenhealthmatters.org
Photos and video of the Youth Suicide Prevention campaign announcement may be found at:
Community Health Needs Assessment Survey - Input Requested
Take part in the Howard County Community Health Needs Assessment Survey and weigh in on the health needs of Howard County. Your input will help shape the future of health and wellness in the County. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JFG5YC6 .
You will also have the opportunity to look at the preliminary data from the Howard County Health Assessment Survey (HCHAS).
March is Colorectal Cancer Month
Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer affects people in all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people age 50 and older. Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is a great time to spread the word about the importance of getting screened for colorectal cancer. For more information about colorectal cancer and the services provided by the Health Department, visit our Colorectal Cancer Program page by clicking here.
Seasonal Flu Clinics
Walk-In hours. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. No appointment necessary.
Wednesday clinics are 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Howard County Health Department
8930 Stanford Blvd.
Columbia, MD 21045
Lead Information & Resources
Visit the following Health Department pages:
The Doctor Is In - Episode Three - Public Health 101
The third episode of the Health Department podcast, The Doctor Is In is now available on Howard Community College’s Dragon Digital Radio. It is no surprise that the words public health conjure up images of health inspectors investigating restaurants or perhaps a clinic for mothers and their babies. While both are accurate, there is much more to public health than meets the eye. In fact, it is often said that when public health is working, it is invisible. We’ll talk to three people working in very different areas of public health. You can hear all of the episodes of The Doctor Is In at: https://dragondigitalradio.podbean.com/category/the-doctor-is-in
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