September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board (MHRSB) of Allen, Auglaize and Hardin Counties focuses on suicide prevention year round. This month is a specific time when we raise awareness, change the stigma around seeking help, and offer resources to those affected by thoughts of suicide.
Allen, Auglaize and Hardin Counties each have a Suicide Prevention Coalition. Local volunteers make up these coalitions. The MHRSB and coalitions work together to help prevent suicide in our communities. They hold annual Suicide Awareness & Prevention Walks in each county during September. The coalitions also distribute the purple stop signs which have the local 24/7 HOPELine and Veteran’s Crisis numbers.
Our Suicide Prevention Coalitions are experiencing low membership. This has created a barrier to continuing their awareness and prevention work. Only Auglaize County is hosting a walk this year. These walks play a prominent role in raising awareness and providing resources for suicide prevention.
The past two and a half years have been difficult. Suicide rates have risen among youth and older adults. There were an estimated 1.2 million suicide attempts in 2020. According to the CDC, adults ages 35–64 years account for 47.2% of all suicides in the United States. In that same year, suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14. Youth rates continued to stay above pre-pandemic levels in 2021.
The national Behavioral Healthcare field is facing workforce shortages. Our three counties are not exempt from these shortages. The MHRSB is working hard to increase staffing. We have started school-based initiatives, partnered with local colleges, and hosted career events.
In the meantime, we are equipping community members to prevent suicide. Family, friends, teachers and coworkers are often the first to see signs of suicide. The volunteer-based Suicide Prevention Coalitions are crucial to our community efforts.
Local community suicide prevention efforts need your help. Coalitions are looking for new members to help organize future Suicide Awareness & Prevention Walks, and find ways to raise awareness that work in each community.
You can join your county’s coalition by visiting in-person meetings. Find all the meeting information online at passaah.org/coalitions.
Allen County Suicide Prevention Coalition
First Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m.
PASS – 309 W. High St., Lima
Auglaize County Suicide Prevention Coalition
Fourth Tuesday of each month at 12 p.m.
Living Hope Church – 1130 Indiana Ave., St. Marys
Hardin County Suicide Prevention Coalition
1st Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m.
Ada Public Library – 320 N. Main St., Ada
Community members can help prevent suicide in more ways than joining their county’s Suicide Prevention Coalition. Take a Mental Health First Aid in-person training. If none are available in your area, host a training. Start an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in your workplace. Learn how to talk to your children about suicide and share the local Hopeline with others.
The 24/7 Hopeline is 1-800-567-HOPE (4673). Call that number if you or a loved one are in crisis. You can also text 741741. The new national helpline is also available at 988. All these numbers will connect you to a trained counselor.
Tammie Colon is Executive Director of Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin Counties
