MARCH 2022
@HOME N E W S L E T T E R
ISSUE 125
FailSafe for Life
COMBATING THE THREAT OF SUICIDE IN SPOKANE
he shadows cast by suicide are long, and they are dark. Those who live in them, because family members, friends and loved ones have taken their own lives, struggle to escape. Some never do. Sabrina Votava, born and raised in Spokane, struggled for five years after that shadow fell across her life not once, but twice in one year. She lost two brothers in 2003, when, within six months
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focused on preventing suicide. Funding for those groups in the years to follow began to wane, however, leading Votava to found the Spokanebased nonprofit FailSafe for Life in 2016. FailSafe for Life offers free workshops in how to recognize signs that someone might be at risk of suicide, and how to intervene thoughtfully and effectively. One of these sessions is called "QPR Gatekeeper" training, a system developed
to furthering the important work of this organization, please reach out to info@failsafeforlife.org. The Spring for Hope Anniversary Auction, their major fundraising event of the year, kicks off Monday April 18th with a virtual silent auction. This week-long auction closes Friday April 22nd, 2022, at the historical Timbers on Pacific, at 116 W Pacific. There, they will celebrate with raffles, programming, delicious food, drinks and the highly anticipated
of one another, each took his own life. So strong was her own character that in the crucible of
by Dr. Paul Quinett. QPR stands for "question, persuade and refer." Through early recognition
paddle raise and live auction.
suffering she was able to forge a new resolution, not only to go on living, but to dedicate her life to
and intervention, the QPR practitioner seeks to refer the subject to competent medical or
helping others in Spokane cope with depression and suicidal thoughts, either in themselves or in
psychological treatment. To quote from their own literature, "FailSafe for Life’s mission is to help
the minds of others. “I was trying to understand what happened
each of these facets of survival function in the best way. We are a FailSafe of sorts for the community
with them. I did understand the depression, and how they could get to a point where they were
in the chain of survival for suicide prevention to avoid a breakdown in the first place. We also know
having thoughts of suicide, but kind of how they broke through the barrier and moved forward and
this sort of prevention can’t be done if just some of us are involved. It takes our whole community
acted on it, I didn’t understand,” Votava said. Rather than surrendering herself to her grief, she invested in her own education, obtaining a B.A. in public health from the University of Washington in 2007, and an MA from Whitworth in 2019. After graduating from the University of Washington in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in public health, Votava went on to work for two different organizations in Washington state
to create this safety net so our most vulnerable members don’t fall through the cracks.” The classes offered by FailSafe for Life range from two-hour presentations by Votava herself or a trained associate to a fourteen-hour seminar in which expert providers in the community participate. The more extensive carry a nominal fee, while most are available at no charge. If you might be inclined to donate some time
To learn more and to find out how you can provide an auction item or purchase tickets for the Spring for Hope Anniversary Auction: failsafeforlife.org/get-involved To volunteer at the event: signupgenius.com/go/ 70A0544AEA823A7FA7-spring1 If you want to support this organization but are unable to attend the Spring for Hope event, please consider a financial or in-kind donation. Financial donations can be made here: paypal.com/paypalme/FailSafeforLife To provide an in-kind donation, please contact Amie Ross: amie.ross@failsafeforlife.org