Los Alamos County Health Council Meeting - September 3, 2026

The Los Alamos County Health Council met on September 3, 2026, at 12:00 PM in Municipal Building Room 330 and via Zoom. The meeting included a presentation on ABC suicide prevention training, with in-depth discussion of risk factors, language use, and community resources. No action items were voted on; the meeting focused on information sharing and training.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved as presented.
• Minutes from the August 6, 2026 Health Council meeting were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Presentations and Discussion Items

• ABC Suicide Prevention Training (Jamie Allbach, Los Alamos County Social Services Outreach Specialist): Jamie Allbach delivered a one-hour training on ABC suicide prevention, developed by Marvel Harrison. The training emphasized that suicide is preventable, discussed the importance of language (e.g., avoiding 'committed suicide' and 'successful/unsuccessful attempts'), and addressed risk factors including social isolation, financial stress, lack of affordable housing, chronic pain, and access to lethal means. The presentation also covered community risk factors such as the 'bubble' perception of Los Alamos, which can mask struggles, and the need for destigmatizing mental health conversations. Allbach demonstrated how to ask directly 'Are you thinking about suicide?' and highlighted the importance of being present and connecting individuals to resources like 988.
• Discussion on Local Risk Factors: Council members and attendees discussed how Los Alamos's unique context—high job security at the Lab, but also social isolation, high housing costs, and a 'superstar' culture—contributes to suicide risk. They noted challenges with data collection due to stigma and the 'Secret City' culture, and gaps in crisis response, including limited psychiatric resources at the local emergency room and lack of a coordinated transport system for mental health crises.
• Shared Resources: Attendees shared information on medication disposal bags, gun locks, and the 988 crisis line, emphasizing that 988 does not automatically trigger police involvement and is a suitable resource for non-emergency distress.

Reports and Updates

• Chairman's Report (Lisa Hampton): No action taken.
• Staff Report (Jessica Strong): No action taken.
• County Council Liaison Report (Melanee Hand): No action taken.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes or decisions were made. The meeting was primarily educational.
• The council agreed to continue discussions at the next meeting, building on topics from this session.
• The ABC prevention training was completed, and participant cards will be issued to attendees.