Baxter Health will host a free public presentation on suicide prevention next month at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center in Mountain Home. The event, titled “It’s a Tough Subject: A Conversation About Suicide,” is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, from 6 to 7 p.m. at 1600 S. College St. on the ASU-Mountain Home campus. The event is open to the public, and no registration is required.
The featured speaker is Dennis Gillan, founder and executive director of the Half a Sorrow Foundation. Gillan, who lost two brothers to suicide 11 years apart, spent many years in silence before becoming a national advocate for mental health awareness. His presentation will focus on recognizing signs of distress, initiating conversations about mental health, and reducing the stigma that often prevents individuals from asking for help. Gillan’s goal, as stated by Baxter Health, is to empower attendees with the confidence to intervene when someone may be in need.
“This is exactly the kind of conversation our community needs to be having,” said Jamie Leach, a licensed clinical social worker and community relations specialist at Baxter Health. “Mental health is something that touches every family, and we want people to feel equipped to support the people they love.”
The talk takes place in a county that has faced significant challenges with suicide. Baxter Health’s community needs assessment recently reported that Baxter County’s suicide death rate is 29.8 per 100,000 residents, far higher than the Arkansas rate of 18.8 and the national rate of 13.8. Suicide remains the 11th leading cause of death nationally, according to data cited by the hospital.
Local efforts have brought attention and resources to the issue. In February, Dan Hall, commander of Disabled American Veterans Twin Lakes Chapter 30, informed the Baxter County Quorum Court that the county registered zero veteran suicides in 2025 for the first time in memory. Hall credited a collaborative prevention effort that spans more than 30 local partners, including the sheriff's office and local churches, who have incorporated suicide prevention into their ongoing work.
Baxter County’s work began about a decade ago, as annual suicides reached a high of 27 in one year, approximately half involving veterans. Within two years of implementing the community-wide initiative, the county saw a 35% decrease in its overall suicide rate and a 75% drop in veteran deaths. In 2025, there were 11 deaths by suicide among non-veterans, underscoring the ongoing need for community action.
Young people remain a particular concern. Registered nurse Corrine Hiser told the Mountain Home Public School Board in June 2025 that Baxter County has one of the highest teen suicide rates in Arkansas. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Arkansans aged 10 to 34. Local resident Summer Sasser shared her own experience, describing her efforts to prevent further loss through the Run for Tomorrow 5K, which funds programs like Project Renew in schools.
The goal of Gillan’s upcoming talk aligns with the community’s broader efforts. Board member Scott Booth emphasized in 2025 that even asking someone directly about their thoughts of self-harm can open a critical dialogue and “remove that avenue.”
The presentation will last approximately one hour, followed by a question-and-answer session. For more information, contact Jamie Leach at (870) 508-6465 or jleach@baxterregional.org. Additional details on the Half a Sorrow Foundation can be found at halfasorrow.org.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by phone or text. Veterans can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1, or by texting 838255.