September is Suicide Prevention Month. Here, we discuss statistics, warning signs, and ways to get support for yourself or a loved one.
Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States. The CDC reported that in 2022, approximately 49,000 Americans lost their lives to suicide, which is estimated to be one death every eleven minutes. Since 2000, there has been about a 37% increase in suicide rates annually. The 2022 Clark County Community Health Assessment, conducted by the Clark County Combined Health District, reported that between the years of 2016-2020, the suicide rate per 100,000 people in Clark County has been consistently higher than the average suicide rates per 100,000 people in both the state of Ohio and the United States.
https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html
https://ccchd.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Clark-County-CHA-2022-Final.pdf
What are the warning signs?
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shared about various warning signs for suicide in both youth and adults. These warning signs can include:
- Increased agitation or irritability
- Changes in sleep
- Increased use of alcohol or other substances
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
- Displaying extreme mood swings
- Having significant life events occur (loss of a loved one, job, relationship, etc.)
- Withdrawing from family and friends
https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicide/warning-signs
Getting help
Seeking support, whether for yourself or someone else, is an incredibly brave thing to do. Here, in Clark County, there are some options for support in the event of someone having active thoughts of harming themselves.
988: Instead of calling 911, people are encouraged to dial 988 in the event of a mental health emergency, including thoughts of suicide. When calling 988, calls are handled by professionals specifically trained to manage mental health emergencies. When calling this line, there is an option available for veterans that will connect them to the Veterans Crisis Line.
Nearest Emergency Room: People can also visit their nearest emergency room. Many hospitals often have medical professionals who specialize in treating individuals having a mental health emergency. This may be a social worker, but could also be a doctor or nurse, depending on their specialty.
Community Mental Health Center: In Clark County, we do have agencies committed to treating others struggling with their mental health. Mental Health Services for Clark and Madison Counties has walk-in hours Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM for those who may be having a mental health crisis. Their phone number is (937) 399-9500.
You can also contact the Mental Health Recovery Board for Clark, Greene, and Madison Counties for a list of providers by either calling them at (937) 322-0648 or by visiting their website at https://www.mhrb.org/find-help/#results
https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/
Our Patron Advocate, Katie Miller, is also available Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Her email is kmiller@ccplohio.org and her cell is (937) 471-0371. Katie works for Mental Health Services, but works in our library, providing case management resources to patrons. This can also include linking patrons to crisis services.
Most importantly...
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, you are not alone. You are incredibly valued and are deserving of support. Reaching out for help can be scary, and we want you to know that you do not have to face this alone. There are resources, people, out there who are willing to help you.
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