Taney County Health Department Encourages the Community to Take Action to Prevent Suicide Deaths

September 15, 2026

Suicide remains a significant public health concern in Missouri and Taney County. According to the 2026 Missouri Student Survey, approximately 1 in 8 Taney County students – about 203 students – have seriously considered suicide in the past year.

“Suicide prevention is something the entire community can be a part of,” said Kara Miller, Health Educator with the Taney County Health Department. “We don’t have to be mental health professionals to make a difference. We can learn how to recognize when someone may be struggling, ask the difficult questions, listen without judgement, and connect people with life-saving help.”

The Taney County Health Department provides Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training at no cost to participants. This training helps community members recognize warning signs and respond when someone may be experiencing a suicidal crisis. Since the program began, the Health Department has trained more than 1,700 youth and adults in suicide prevention.

In addition to QPR, Taney County residents interested in helping to bring down the suicide rate can participate with the Taney County Suicide Prevention Network. The Taney County Suicide Prevention Network (TCSPN) is a coalition of local organizations, community partners, and citizens working together to raise awareness about suicide prevention and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health.

Community members and organizations interested in learning more or becoming involved in local suicide prevention efforts are encouraged to attend a TCSPN meeting. Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month at the Taney County Health Department’s Branson office. Everyone is welcome.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. To learn more about suicide prevention or schedule QPR training for your organization, contact the Taney County Health Department at 417-334-4544, ext. 594.

For more information contact the Taney County Health Department at 417-334-4544, visit our website at taneyhealth.gov, or like our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X pages.

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As a leader in health, the Taney County Health Department serves Taney County residents and visitors in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle and environment. The Taney County Health Department’s mission is to create a healthy and safe community for people to live, work, and play, today and in the future. Caring, serving, and protecting Taney County since 1961. Please visit our website taneyhealth.gov to learn more about our services.

This project is funded in part by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services MCH Services Contract #DH220051152, and is supported by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #B04MC47428, Maternal and Child Health Services for

$12,834,718, of which $0 is from non-governmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.