Forum in Oak Harbor focuses on suicide prevention Sept. 17
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, September 15, 2026
A community forum in Oak Harbor this week will bring together local professionals to discuss suicide prevention, mental health and ways to recognize when someone may need help.
The Sons of the American Legion Squadron No. 129 will host the free Suicide Awareness and Prevention Forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at the American Legion, 690 SE Barrington Drive. The event is open to the public.
The forum is intended to give community members an opportunity to talk openly about mental health and suicide, learn about available resources and find out what they can do when they are concerned about a friend, family member or someone else in their lives.
The panel will include Oak Harbor Public Schools Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dwight Lundstrom, Pat McMahon of South Whidbey Fire/EMS and Dave Konkler of Nine9Line Veteran Services.
The discussion will cover youth mental health, issues affecting LGBTQ+ people, post-traumatic stress disorder, veterans’ experiences and suicide prevention. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the panelists.
“Suicide prevention is something that affects all of us, regardless of our background or circumstances,” event organizers Delia Pierce and Teresa Addison said in an announcement about the forum.
“When we come together as a community, we can learn how to recognize the signs that someone may be struggling and, more importantly, learn what we can do to help,” they added. “We invite everyone to join us.”
The forum is part of the American Legion’s “Be the One” initiative, a nationwide effort focused on reducing veteran suicide and the stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment. The initiative also encourages people to learn how to recognize when a veteran or servicemember may be in crisis and how to respond.
Veteran suicide remains a significant concern nationally. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ most recent annual suicide prevention report, 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023, an average of 17.5 a day.
The VA reported that the number was slightly lower than the previous year, when an average of 17.6 veterans died by suicide each day. The agency has emphasized that suicide prevention involves not only responding to an immediate crisis but also connecting veterans with health care, social support and other resources.
Nine9Line Veteran Services, which will be represented on the panel, is among the community partners involved in Washington state’s veteran suicide prevention efforts. The organization works to connect veterans and their families with services and resources.
The Oak Harbor forum isn’t limited to veterans, however. Organizers are encouraging anyone interested in learning more about mental health and suicide prevention to attend, whether they are concerned about themselves, a family member or friend or simply want to know how to respond when someone appears to be struggling.
The evening will include a question-and-answer session and refreshments provided by the Sons of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary.
The Suicide Awareness and Prevention Forum begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at the American Legion, 690 SE Barrington Drive in Oak Harbor. Admission is free.