Riverside County Suicide Prevention Conference Focuses on Postvention

Close to 50,000 people die by suicide each year in the United States, and in Riverside County alone, the number averages about 266 annually. While many prevention strategies aim to stop suicide before it happens, local experts say just as much attention must be given to what happens afterward—known as “postvention.”

The Riverside County Suicide Prevention Coalition hosted its annual conference this week at the Palm Springs Convention Center, drawing more than 500 attendees from law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, and mental health providers. This year’s theme, “Postvention as Prevention,” highlighted how early intervention with grieving families and friends can reduce the risk of further suicide in the community.

“The sooner we can engage with someone who's lost someone to suicide, then we can reduce any chances that they might choose suicide as an option,” Diana Gutierrez, the Prevention and Early Intervention Manager for the RUHS Behavioral Health Department says. Officers, school resource staff, and other frontline workers shared personal stories of loss and emphasized how deeply suicide impacts entire communities. In addition to the annual event, the coalition offers year-round resources including on-scene response teams, trauma programs, and counseling services for those coping with loss. Organizers hope the message resonates: building resilience and providing compassionate support after a suicide isn’t just healing—it’s lifesaving. For help in Riverside County, resources are available through the Riverside University Health System’s Behavioral Health Department. For help county-wide, call 951-686-HELP.