About
In April 2019, newsrooms across Oregon joined together to highlight the public health crisis of death by suicide. Our goal with “Breaking the Silence” is to not only put a spotlight on a problem that claimed the lives of more than 800 Oregonians last year, but also examine research into how prevention can and does work and offer our readers, listeners and viewers resources to help if they – or those they know – are in crisis.
The media outlets teamed up again in September 2019 to publish another round of stories that coincide with National Suicide Prevention Week.
The participating media outlets used a common set of data and have loosely coordinated their coverage in an effort to avoid duplication and better amplify all of our work.
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Stories
AP
Oregon newsrooms team up to 'break silence' around suicide
THE OREGONIAN
Suicide rates in the mountain West are sky-high; now researchers are asking why
STREET ROOTS
Understanding the connection between eviction and suicide
PAMPLIN MEDIA
'Pushed to their limit'
THE OREGONIAN
Editorial: Breaking the silence on suicide
KGW
Straight Talk: Breaking the silence about suicide in Oregon
THE STATESMAN JOURNAL
Behind the badge: Suicide's toll on police, other first responders
CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
Crisis management: Corvallis volunteer works with text line
OREGON CAPITAL BUREAU
Adi's Act: State invests to save students' lives
ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD
Editorial: Some hope, but troubling numbers, in the fight against youth suicide
KATU
How are Oregon lawmakers addressing youth suicide rates?
MAIL TRIBUNE
Breaking the Silence: Talk about it (Part 1)
MAIL TRIBUNE
Breaking the Silence: Give them hope (Part 2)
JPR
Breaking The Silence: Talking About Suicide
OPB
Think Out Loud: Talking About Suicide
OPB
Morning Edition: Research Shows We Should Talk About Suicide
BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE
Zero suicide: a new approach to an old problem
KGW
Parents offer advice after their teenagers died by suicide
KBND
Breaking The Silence: Suicide Crisis in Rural Oregon
KATU
'Breaking The Silence': Reformed bully now working to be an advocate for kindness
KATU
'Breaking The Silence': Relationship with bullying and suicide is complicated
POYNTER
Here's what it looks like when 30 media entities from one state work together
OPB
Two Youth Suicides Change A Small Oregon Town
MAIL TRIBUNE
Breaking the Silence: A survivor's story (Part 3)
EAST OREGONIAN
Breaking the silence
KTVL
Law enforcement's tactics change when mental health gets involved
HERMISTON HERALD
Students hope for less silence on suicide
THE OREGONIAN
Opinion: Through profound grief, I chose life
KPTV
South Albany High School takes part in nationwide pilot project on 'mental health first aid'
WILLAMETTE WEEK
As Suicide Rates Soar, an Oregon Republican Crosses the Gun Lobby to Help People in crisis
KOBI
Five on 5: Kristin Fettig – Jackson County Mental Health
PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL
Construction workers are at high risk for suicide. Here's what the industry is doing about it
PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL
Banfield responds to high suicide rates among vets
DAILY EMERALD
Opinion: Resources to help climb the mental health mountain
THE CHRONICLE
How the community of St. Helens is planting a flower to combat suicide
THE CHRONICLE
Local Suicide Prevention Task Force forms to 'talk about it'
THE CHRONICLE
Training opportunities offered to educate the public on mental health intervention skills
OPB
Think Out Loud: Suicide Prevention In Native Communities
KPTV
Forest Grove woman who survived two suicide attempts shares her story to encourage others in criss
KGW
Breaking the Silence: Youthline serves as critical resource for those in need
OPB
LGBTQ Veterans Face Compounding Mental Health Challenges
EUGENE WEEKLY
Willamette High School Pushes To Support Its Students
PAMPLIN MEDIA
Walking for suicide prevention
SALEM REPORTER
At Youth ERA, Salem teens find peers to talk about mental health, suicide
JPR
Breaking The Silence: Postpartum Suicide Explored
KGW
How Lincoln HS takes a direct approach to prevent teen suicide
KPTV
LOPD officer working full-time on suicide prevention, community outreach
KOIN
Suicide to survival: One man's story of recovery
KTVL
With crisis training, officers can address deeper problems on calls
THE OREGONIAN
After five years with no suicides from Vista Bridge, Portland is considering permanent barriers
HERMISTON HERALD
Opinion: Choose to continue the sentence
HERMISTON HERALD
Opinion: Losses affect students left behind
JPR
Breaking The Silence: Compass Radio
THE OREGONIAN
Opinion: Breaking the silence – now it's our turn
CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
A culture of caring: OSU ramps up resources for students contemplating suicide
KGW
Newburg student's senior project brings awareness to suicide prevention
THE PACIFIC INDEX
Student athletes deal with the pressure of battling stress and depression while not wanting to seem ‘weak’
DAILY EMERALD
Opinion: Let's talk about suicide
KGW
Wyden, Merkley stress importance to fund mental health services, suicide prevention
THE LUND REPORT
Mental Health Workers Considering Suicide Not Alone
THE OREGONIAN
Opinion: Healing after a suicide attempt begins with opening up to others
KTVZ
Bend veteran helps group that helped him
KTVZ
Helping struggling fellow veterans
KTVZ
Battle Buddies offer tail-wagging support
KTVZ
The Shield helps struggling vets
KTVZ
Camp victory workouts change lives
DAILY EMERALD
'Breaking the Silence' around Oregon's suicide crisis in Lane County
KOIN
KOIN podcast: Breaking the Silence
KOIN
Breaking the Silence: Social media and suicide
PAMPLIN MEDIA
Opinion: Talking about suicide can save lives
THE OREGONIAN
Lines for Life honored as nation's most-innovative crisis call center
THE PACIFIC INDEX
RAs face difficult decisions over student resident wellbeing
THE OREGONIAN
Letter from the Editor: Newsrooms are leading a vital conversation about Oregon's suicide problem
THE OREGONIAN
In Oregon, academic pressures, existential fears help explain rising rates of suicide, mental health conditions
THE STATESMAN JOURNAL
Parents of adults with mental illness seek help
KATU
Portion of Student Success Act must go toward mental health
KGW
How the construction industry is working to prevent suicide
BEYOND WELL PODCAST
Dan Schilling: The Military Mental Health Crisis
BEYOND WELL PODCAST
Ken Cervera, A Brush With Death Informed My Life
KATU
Student-led initiative looks to advocate for mental wellness
THE STATESMAN JOURNAL
Salem-Keizer increases mental health services
KGW
Washougal woodworker spreads message of hope through his words and his art
KATU
Spreading positivity on the air, in the community: 'Smiling could change somebody's day
THE OREGONIAN
Suicide attempt survivors share their stories 'through a lens of hope and recovery' — and art
KPTV
Group in Washington Co. fights to break the stigma around mental illness through art
THE SKANNER
'It's OK to struggle'
THE BEND BULLETIN
Gun owners and mental health professionals aligning on suicide prevention
PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL
VA Portland tackles veteran suicides on a variety of fronts
OPB
Before Oregon’s Suicide Prevention Plan Requirement, Efforts Vary By District
OPB
Washington Requires Schools Have Suicide Prevention Plans, But Doesn't Provide Funding
KATU
Unity Center offers free problem-solving class for parents with struggling kids
KPTV
Salem-Keizer Public Schools adding extra counselors to focus more on mental health
KATU
The science behind kindness campaigns: Studies show they work
OPB
Think Out Loud: Veterinarian Suicides
KGW
'Don't Give Up': Messages of hope pop up in Cowlitz County
CATALYST JOURNALISM PROJECT
Oregon schools failing on suicide prevention
THE PACIFIC INDEX
Students say peers, not teachers, are go-to resource for suicide prevention
PAMPLIN MEDIA
Mental health issues are nothing to kid around about
PAMPLIN MEDIA
Schools gear up for new laws addressing teen mental health
Partners
ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD BEYOND WELL PODCAST BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE BRIDGELINER
THE CHRONICLE CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES DAILY EMERALD EAST OREGONIAN EUGENE WEEKLY
HERMISTON HERALD JPR KATU KBND KGW KOBI KOIN KPTV KTVL KTVZ
LINES FOR LIFE THE LUND REPORT MAIL TRIBUNE OPB THE OREGONIAN OREGON CAPITAL BUREAU
THE PACIFIC INDEX PAMPLIN MEDIA PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL SALEM REPORTER
THE STATESMAN JOURNAL SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK STREET ROOTS WILLAMETTE WEEK