Four free suicide prevention events are coming to San Rafael in September as part of Marin County's "Connection Saves Lives" campaign. The series, which runs through Sept. 29, includes seven sessions countywide.

The county's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) division and the Marin County Suicide Prevention Collaborative announced the campaign on Thursday, Sept. 10. Buckelew Programs, which operates Marin's local 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline call center, received more than 5,000 calls from county residents between July 2025 and July 2026, according to the county.

All events are free.

"Seeking help is not a taboo that it may have been in the past and is a sign of strength," Dr. Todd Schirmer, director of Marin BHRS, said in the announcement.

San Rafael events

The in-person lineup in San Rafael:

  • Thursday, Sept. 17, 12:30 p.m. Suicide Prevention Collaborative Meeting: Connection Saves Lives. Center for Domestic Peace, 734 A St.
  • Monday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. Preventing Firearm Tragedies in Intimate Relationships. Center for Domestic Peace, 734 A St.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m. Ask, Listen, Connect: Signs & Symptoms of Mental Health Challenge. 3240 Kerner Connection Center, Room 109. Registration required.
  • Monday, Sept. 28, 3:30 p.m. Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training, hosted by Buckelew Programs. 20 North San Pedro, Point Reyes Room.

QPR is a training method that teaches participants to recognize warning signs, talk to someone in crisis and connect them with professional help.

Virtual sessions

Three additional events are online:

  • Friday, Sept. 18, 1:30 p.m. Beyond Suicide Prevention: Moving Towards Livability, hosted by Crisis Support Services of Alameda County. Registration required.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m. Talk Saves Lives for Parents, hosted by the Marin County Office of Education and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6:30 p.m. Spanish-language QPR training via Zoom. To register, call 415-858-5827.

More details are available at prevention.marinbhrs.org/suicide-prevention.

Marin BHRS also operates a 24-hour Access Line at 1-888-818-1115 for residents facing mental health or substance use challenges. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available around the clock by phone, text or chat.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.