ASHLAND — Suicide is not something easily talked about, but that’s exactly what the Ashland County Mental Health and Recovery Board wants to do in September.
The month was recently proclaimed by the Ashland County Commissioners as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, where events focused on raising awareness, eliminating stigma and promoting suicide prevention as a public health issue will take place.
Suicide continues to be an issue everywhere.
Nationally, there are more than 30,000 suicide deaths every year, making suicide the eleventh leading cause of death, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Each year in Ohio, 1,600 people die by suicide, making it the third leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.
It was only recently that Ashland County officials have made a concerted effort to track deaths by suicide that happen within the county.
David Ross, the executive director of MHRB, cited coroner data when he said there were seven suicide deaths that happened within the county in 2021.
“Still one too many,” he said.
That’s why the National Suicide Awareness Prevention initiative is important, Ross said.
MHRB — which contracts with three licensed service providers in the area — will for the next month email contacts within its network to raise awareness of suicide, sponsor a training program and a walk later in the month.
The 6th annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk will happen from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 25. It will start and end at the Ashland University Convocation Center.
“The walk, one of our more somber events, is the capstone event,” Ross said.
This year will be the first time MHRB will offer Question, Persuade, Refer training to Ashland County staff. In 2021, the training was provided to around 275 people at Ashland University, law enforcement agencies, community members, businesses, churches and several school districts, according to the board’s annual service summary.
That training, which focuses on teaching people the warning signs of suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help.
In Ashland County, QPR trainees are also exposed to the Crisis Text Line that serves as a newer resource helping people get connected quicker when in crisis.
MHRB also has a Grievers of Suicide Support group, held the second Wednesday every month and offered to people aged 18 and older who have experienced loss by suicide.
The board also launched a podcast — Keeping Ashland Healthy — and is now in its second season. The podcast hosts people who speak on a variety of topics, suicide prevention included.
Those who want more information about the events happening throughout September can visit the website.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a crisis, call the hotline at 419-289-6111 or text 4HOPE to 741741.
As the sponsor of Ashland Source's Life and Culture section, Brethren Care Village continues its commitment to enriching lives and promoting a vibrant community.
