Mentis Monday: Napa County Strengthens Community-Based Suicide Prevention Efforts
By Jeni Olsen and Charlotte Hajer
Trigger warning: This article references suicide and may be emotionally challenging. Please pay close attention to the resources offered in this article should you need support.
“Suicide prevention is a responsibility we all share.” — Jeni Olsen
Every September, communities across the country observe Suicide Prevention Month — a time to reflect on lives lost to suicide, support survivors and strengthen resources for folks in crisis. Here in Napa County, this month carries deep meaning. It’s a time when our community pauses to remember those we’ve lost, uplift those who are struggling, and recognize the important work being done to reduce suicide and build a culture of connection and care.
A Community Response Born From Tragedy
The Napa County Suicide Prevention Council was formed in 2016 after the heartbreaking loss of two local teens to suicide.
Out of this tragedy, community members, county mental health representatives, law enforcement, healthcare providers and nonprofit leaders came together with a shared purpose: to better understand who was dying by suicide in our community, how and why — and to do something about it.
The council spent its early years focused on learning. They gathered data, listened to survivors and families, and studied evidence-based strategies. Their mission was clear: Build a local approach to suicide prevention that reflects Napa County’s unique needs.
That mission became even more concrete in early 2024, when the council launched its first-ever three-year strategic plan.
This roadmap lays out goals for prevention, intervention and postvention — support for those impacted by suicide — that are both ambitious and practical. For the past three years, Jeni Olsen has chaired the council, while Mentis, Napa’s oldest nonprofit dedicated to mental health, has partnered closely to expand programs and reach more people.
Building Skills and Shifting Culture
The results of this work are beginning to show. Thousands of Napa County residents have now been trained in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), a nationally recognized suicide prevention method. What makes it especially powerful is that QPR isn’t just for clinicians or crisis workers: It’s a simple but effective technique anyone can use to recognize the warning signs of suicide, ask directly about someone’s safety and connect them to help.
From middle school classrooms to hospital conference rooms, people across Napa are learning these skills. And with every training, the message spreads: Suicide prevention is a responsibility we all share.
Equally important, the stigma around mental health is starting to fade. More people are willing to talk openly about their struggles, more families know where to turn for support and more organizations are stepping up to normalize conversations about well-being. This cultural shift is lifesaving. Silence and isolation feed despair; connection and openness offer hope.
A Conference That Brings It All Together
Last September the council hosted its first-ever Suicide Prevention Conference at Napa Valley College. More than 200 people — residents, service-providers, faith leaders, survivors and advocates — gathered for a meaningful day of learning and connection.
The conference featured breakout sessions on reducing access to lethal means, supporting youth and older adults, and walking alongside those who have lost someone to suicide. Attendees also heard a moving keynote from Candace Washington, a nationally recognized pastor, psychotherapist, veteran and suicide survivor, who shared her story with honesty and strength.
The energy in the room was unmistakable: People left with new tools, deeper understanding and, perhaps most importantly, a sense that they were not alone in this work.
Moving Beyond Awareness: This Year’s Conference
Building on that momentum, the Napa County Suicide Prevention Council, in partnership with Mentis, is excited to host its second annual conference this fall. “Beyond Awareness: Allies in Action for Suicide Prevention” will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Yountville Community Center.
This free, community-wide event invites all residents, service-providers, and advocates to attend part or all of the programming. With a focus on groups at especially high risk — older adults, veterans and LGBTQIA youth — the day will feature breakout sessions on:
Building protective factors for older adults
Building protective factors for veterans
A live, interactive ALLY training from The Trevor Project, designed to empower participants to better support LGBTQ+ individuals and foster inclusive environments.
Spanish translation will be available, ensuring more of our community can fully participate.
The evening keynote will be delivered by Calistoga City Councilmember Lisa Gift, who will share her lived experience with suicide ideation and her journey as a public servant. Lisa’s mission — to reduce stigma, normalize conversations about emotional well-being and champion compassionate systems of care — resonates deeply with the goals of this conference.
An optional dinner will be served at 6 p.m. for $20, providing a chance to reflect, connect and continue conversations.
Where last year’s conference showed us how powerful it is when our community comes together to talk openly about suicide, this year’s event is all about giving people the tools, confidence and compassion they need to help protect those most at risk. Now, more than ever, we need to create a stronger, more connected Napa County.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025
Time: 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. (attend part or all)
Location: Yountville Community Center, Yountville, CA
Cost: Free (optional dinner $20)
Registration: Click here.
Hope, Connection and Action
Suicide prevention is not the work of one agency or one month — it is the work of an entire community, carried out every day in conversations between neighbors, in classrooms, in clinics and at kitchen tables.
By equipping more people with lifesaving tools, creating safe spaces to talk about hard truths and building a network of support that stretches across every sector of our county, we are making progress. We are proving that suicide is preventable and that hope is possible.
This September, as we mark Suicide Prevention Month, let’s recommit to listening more, reaching out when someone is struggling and standing together to ensure no one in Napa County has to face despair alone.
Services
If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
If you or someone you love needs mental health or wellness support, please visit our Mentis Community and Youth Resource Database. Mentis is one of Napa’s oldest nonprofits and provides bilingual, affordable mental health services to people of every age and income level.
If you are a veteran or someone who supports a veteran in crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1, or text 838255 for 24/7, confidential support — no VA enrollment required.
A Few of the Local Businesses Supporting Suicide Prevention Month
During Suicide Prevention Month, Mentis and local businesses across Napa Valley are teaming up to raise funds and awareness for mental health. Throughout September, wineries, restaurants and shops will donate a portion of sales to support Mentis’ programs.
Jessup Cellars — Complimentary “Got Cab?” tasting when you mention Mentis; 20% of cabernet bottle purchases donated to Mentis
Priest Ranch — $5 donated per Mood Enhancing tasting; The Kitchen at Priest Ranch donates 10% of Dirty Fries orders (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Sept. 12, 4 to 6 p.m. — Southside Napa donates 20% of sales to Mentis
Sept. 17, noon to 2 p.m. — Veronica Beard donates 15% of sales at the event and through the week
Sept. 18, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. — Markham Vineyards donates 10% of wine sales
Sept. 29, 4 to 8 p.m. — Gott’s Roadside donates 10% of sales
Learn more online.
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Inspired to act after several local youth mental health suicides, Jeni Olsen transitioned from graphic design to a career in Mental Health and co-founded the Napa County Suicide Prevention Council. Known for founding and scaling impactful initiatives and building collaborative partnerships, Olsen brings a deeply personal commitment to supporting the community and addressing systemic challenges through equity-driven, culturally responsive solutions.
Charlotte Hajer is Mentis’ development director. She holds a Ph.D. in cross-cultural mental health and loves to write about the way individuals experience and navigate the social and cultural world around them.
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The work that Mentis is doing is making a profound difference in providing hope and support to those in need. Thank you Napa Features for this important article on Suicide Prevention.