COVID-19 and Suicide Prevention

Posted by Matt Jordan June 25, 2020

Oregon — Local media, mental health professionals and lawmakers met today over zoom to talk mental health in the time of Covid-19.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden joined in on the meeting for the “In This Together” program.

It’s an initiative started by NBC5 and it’s partners.

The group discussed the need for more mental health resources and specifically, for suicide prevention.

Wyden stressed the need for a three-digit suicide prevention hotline at the national level, as well as future measures to force insurance companies to fully cover mental health care.

“The reality is, the long term impact of this isolation is clearly exacting an unprecedented tidal wave on American’s mental health,” said Senator Ron Wyden.

According to local experts, last year Jackson County had it’s highest number of suicides ever.

For more information on NBC5’s “In This Together” program you can head to our website KOBI5.com and click the ‘In This Together’ tab for a list of resources.

© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.

Matt Jordan
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Matt Jordan is the Chief Meteorologist for KOBI-TV NBC5. Matt joined the NBC5 weather team in 2014 after a year as a reporter and anchor in Alexandria, Louisiana. His experience with the severe weather of the Deep South and a love of the Pacific Northwest led him to pursue a certification with Mississippi State University as a Broadcast Meteorologist. You can find Matt working in the evenings of NBC5 News at 5, 6 and 11 as well as online. Matt also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. In addition to being passionate about news and weather, Matt is a BIG Oregon Ducks fan. When not rooting for the Ducks or tracking down the next storm over the Pacific, Matt can be found outdoors in the Oregon wilderness with his wife, his daughter and their dogs Stanley and Gordi.
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