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988

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about community suicide prevention

building a community of hope and support

I Am In Crisis
How To Get Involved

Our mission is to reduce suicide in southeastern Idaho Through advocacy,
collaboration, and education.

Our vision is that Idahoans choose to live

Who We are

Community Suicide Prevention is an organization based out of Idaho Falls to serve Southeastern Idaho. We are devoted to rallying around those in the community affected by suicide and lifting them to feel renewed direction in a world forever changed by the loss of their loved one. We educate people on risks, prevention skills to stop a crisis, and postvention skills to help those affected by one.

Volunteer opportunities

If you are interested in volunteering with us on a regular basis, please contact us. You may also join us at our monthly community meetings which are held the first Thursday of each month. See our events info page for information about community meetings.

Get Involved

Public Health Districts

Meet our board members

Rick T. Croft, LCPC

Madison School District #321

Chair

Rick Croft

An Idaho native, Rick graduated from ISU in 1992 with his master's in counseling. He has worked in a variety of professional settings throughout his career. Rick has been in private practice, worked for EIRMC at the Behavioral Health Center, and worked for community-based mental health agencies both as a counselor and in management and administration. He is currently the Director of Madison Cares, the mental health department for the Madison School District.

Andrea Hamilton

Co-Chair

Andrea Hamilton

Andrea is currently co-chair for Community Suicide Prevention. She received her master’s in social work from Idaho State University and has completed training to become ASIST certified to conduct workshops and spread knowledge on suicide prevention. Andrea is proud to serve the community she calls home.

Sheila Murdock

MSN, RN-BC

Treasurer

Sheila Murdock

Sheila has been involved with SPAN Idaho and Community Suicide Prevention since 2002. She was a co-facilitator of Survivors of Suicide Loss for 10 years. Sheila is a certified trainer of Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR), Metal Health First Aid (MHFA), Youth MHFA and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). She is a mother of 9, grandmother of 16 and a survivor of suicide loss to her 17-year-old son.

Christine Adams

Judicial District VII
CASA Supervisor

Secretary

Christine Adams

Christine is a supervisor for Judicial District 7 CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocate, working with abused and neglected children in the foster care system. Wife, mother of 3, and a survivor of suicide to her beautiful son, her passion is working to spread awareness to end mental health and suicide stigma.

Tina Wheatley

Administrative Assistant

Tina Wheatley

I was born and lived most of my life in Pocatello. We became involved in suicide prevention after attending the SOSL support group after the loss of our son.

Russ Wheatley

Board Member

Russ Wheatley

Originally from Pocatello, I am retired now. We became involved in suicide prevention after losing our son in 2013.

Tina Ricks, lCSW

tueller Counseling

Board Member

Tina Ricks

Tina Ricks is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Through her experiences, Tina has found a passion for working with people and joining them in their journey. She is patient, understanding, and accepting.

Brandi Daw

EIRMC

Board Member

Brandi Daw

Brandi Daw is the Director of Physician and Provider Relations for EIRMC’s Behavioral Health Services. Brandi’s passion is connection. Through her experiences, Brandi wishes to be part of the “change that you wish to see in the world.”

RaeAnne Buerstatte

Board Member

RaeAnne Buersstatte

RaeAnne is a mom who loves working with high schoolers. Her goal is to help make our communities more mentally healthy – and have fun doing it. She loves traveling, especially with her husband, daughter, and grandkids as well as her bonus child, an 85-pound silver Lab named Sprocket, who is always along for the ride too!

Seina Canales

Board Member

Seina Canales

Seina is from Pocatello where she has lived most of her life. She works at Idaho State University as a Technical Records Specialist. Seina joined Community Suicide Prevention after losing her son to suicide in 2019.

Marco Erickson

Community Youth in Action

Board Member

Marco Erickson

Marco Erickson M.S. can be found where there is service related to any form of mental health or positive things for youth. Marco is a current Idaho State Legislator and has served in many capacities over his 25 year career in mental health.

Elizabeth Yanez

Board Member

Elizabeth Yanez

Elizabeth has served as co-chair of Community Suicide Prevention and on the Board of Directors of the Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation. She continues to be involved in community outreach and is currently a Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) certified trainer and obtained her Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) certification in March 2023. Elizabeth looks forward to bringing her experiences to Community Suicide Prevention and the Eastern Idaho Community.

Bonnie Jennings

EIRMC education department

Board Member

Bonny Jennings

Bonny became acquainted with SPAN, now Community Suicide Prevention, after her daughter passed away by suicide in August of 2010 at the age of 20. She works at EIRMC in the Education Dept and has taught thousands of people CPR. Bonny’s husband Randy and her are active members of the Boy Scouts of America and are a team in most everything that they do. They have been married 42 years and have 2 boys and 9 grandchildren. She loves CSP and what it stands for and hopes to do many more good things in the future.

Jan Eastman

Board Member

Jan Eastman

Jan, an Idaho Native, moved to Pocatello in 2007. She retired from nursing after a 40+ year career. Jan is an active volunteer in the Pocatello community in many different areas. She works part time as a Community Service Worker. She is the grandma of 2 adorable granddaughters and a wonderful grandson who is now a teenager. Jan lost her oldest son to suicide in 2014. Once a month she facilitates a suicide loss support group in Pocatello.

Eric Adams, d.c.

idaho Falls Chiropractic Clinic

Board Member

Eric Adams, d.C.

Eric has been a Chiropractic Physician for 30 years. He is passionate about helping his patients feel better naturally. Eric lost his son, Nathan to suicide in 2017 and is committed to spreading awareness and helping to end the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness.

Timalee Geisler

Board Member

Timalee Geisler

Timalee is a native of Eastern Idaho and graduated with a Master of Health Education from Idaho State University in 1998. She has spent her entire career working in local public health in a variety of prevention programs. Timalee is passionate about prevention and serving the communities that she loves and calls home.

Melinda Kettles

Board Member

Melinda Kettles

Melinda moved to American Falls about 3 years ago. She lost her 14-year-old son, Shane, to suicide in July 2022. Melinda is also a mother to her 11-year-old son, Caleb, and a stay at home mom who is pursuing a career in the mental health field.

Brandie Weaver

Board Member

Derek Emery

Board Member

Melissa Schrade

Board Member

Katie Dodge

Board Member

community Suicide Prevention 2023 Activities and Accomplishments

-Sponsored the snacks for the dr. rudd training

-Presented skyo realm with a plaque in appreciation of all of the fundraising efforts they have done for suicide prevention and the money they have donated to CSP from those events

-updated the local resource cards and distributed them throughout the community

-dedicated our 4th angel hope bench in the nature park in rexburg

-had our information and resource cards at INL town health and safety fair with eastern idaho public health

-participated in the aFSP “Out of the darkness walk in pocatello – had a table with information to hand out

-held the 5th annual conference, “connecting communities to save lives with keynote speaker dr. thomas joiner, and presentations by dr. matthew larsen and dr. adam burch

-held the 18th annual “save the one” memorial walk at community park in idaho falls

-held the 1st annual “we remember” awareness/memorial gathering in pocatello

-dedicated our 5th angel hope bench at courtyard park in blackfoot

-paid to have 2 people trained to be aSIST trainers

-merged with eastern idaho public health’s suicide prevention department

-started the project for our 6th angel bench in american falls

-provided resource cards to school counseling departments

-provided several compassion bags to families who recently lost someone to suicide

-held the 6th annual “national survivors of suicide loss day” dinner for over 100 people

-participated in an awareness run sponsored by the rigby hope squad

-participated in the cYA halloween trunk or treat for teens and their families

-sponsored food for the CYA TRAPPED event

-held monthly community meetings with presenters from other local organizations

-provided resource cards to fremont school district to be used in their crisis packets


Reach Out To Us

If you feel you are in need of one-on-one resources such as speaking with other individuals in the community who’ve experienced loss to suicide or professional counseling, please call us at 208-243-9411 or email us through the form below and we will respond with available options as soon as possible. 

DO NOT use the phone number or contact form if you are feeling suicidal. Instead Call or Text 988

We do not save or misuse your information. Review our Privacy Policy.

We do not provide crisis intervention. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis please call or text the 24-hour Idaho Crisis & suicide hotline at 988. If this is a life threatening emergency please dial 911.

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