Pharmacists Preventing Suicides

As a friend, colleague and caring person, I'm sure you will be interested in supporting the efforts of Pharmacists Preventing Suicides, Inc. (PPS, Inc.) PPS, Inc. was founded by C. Patrick Tharp, Ph.D., R.Ph. and his wife, Peggy, 14 years ago after their youngest daughter's death by suicide. The organization was incorporated in July 2014 and then granted it’s 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in March 2015. The goal of PPS, Inc. is to ensure that pharmacists are educated in suicide prevention at the pharmacy school level and to have existing pharmacists acquire suicide prevention continued education as a regular unit in their state. The work towards accomplishing this goal has been a laborious process for Patrick and Peggy, and has required a substantial amount of their own funds along with those of other board members. You likely know someone who has lost a loved one to death by suicide or may have had the unfortunate experience of losing a loved one in this manner yourself. As I'm sure you are aware, depression affects individuals and families in many ways. Depression resulting in self-inflicted death creates a family tragedy of unimaginable trauma and scarring. It is the belief of PPS, Inc. that pharmacists educated in suicide prevention can play a vital role in educating families in recognizing warning signs and lowering the risks for suicide. Pharmacists can assist in preventing these deaths by asking a few questions in a private consulting area of the pharmacy when a patient presents a prescription for anti-depressant medications. To date, we have found that most pharmacists are not educated or trained in suicide prevention. Over 40,400 people in the U.S. die by suicide each year. Experts indicate that 60 to 80% of these deaths are preventable. PPS, Inc. is dedicated to reducing the rise of death by suicide in our society by ensuring that pharmacists are trained to be comfortable and confident and ask helpful questions and refer those at risk accordingly. Since the founding of PPS, Inc., many presentations addressing the need for pharmacists to be educated on the signs of how to help reduce the risk and prevent suicides have been made at pharmacy meetings in several states, to the legislators in Jefferson City, MO, to several state boards of pharmacy and to many pharmacy schools and classes in four states. Patrick has received several honors at the state level for his work by the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Patrick has several articles printed in publications such as Pharmacy Today, the U.S. Pharmacist and Pharmacy Times which are distributed nationally and internationally. With the expertise of his past students who are now physicians and pharmacists and who have also become Missouri state legislators along with supportive lay legislators, there are now bills which will be important in achieving the goal to help pharmacists learn how they can help prevent suicides.

The goal of PPS, Inc. has always been and still is educating and training pharmacists to help prevent suicides. PPS, Inc. does not have any paid employees. The work of the organization is carried out by dedicated board members who volunteer their time and money. The board members will continue to volunteer their time but no longer have the financial means to fully support these ongoing efforts without your assistance. We are reaching out to you and all those we know to ask for help by giving a gift today. Any amount you can give will be greatly appreciated!

Please mail gifts given by check or money order to:

PPS, Inc.
1466 Villas Estates Drive
Fenton, Missouri 63026

To learn more about the accomplishments and ongoing work of PPS, Inc., please visit our website at:

www.pharmacistspreventingsuicides.com