‘You’re not alone’: Commissioners declare Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month
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LOCK HAVEN -- With an average of 132 suicides taking place each day, the Clinton County Board of Commissioners brought the continued efforts to prevent loss of life when it passed a resolution declaring September as National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.
The statistic, from Hope for the Day (HFTD) was read by Commissioner Angela Harding prior to passage.
The resolution further noted that, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 34. The statistics further state more than 48,000 people die by suicide annually in the United States.
With each unfortunate loss of life, the statistics by HFTD further state each death impacts 100 additional people -- including friends, service members, family, social media connections and neighbors.
"Clinton County, Pennsylvania publicly places its' full support behind those who work in the field of mental health, education and law enforcement," Harding read in the resolution.
The resolution noted organizations like the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) of North Central PA and "our many local mental health agencies that are here serve on the front lines of war that many refuse to discuss due to stigma," Harding read.
The board heard from NAMI executive board member Cathy Snyder, who previously spoke to the board during Mental Health Awareness Month in May.
At the time, Snyder told the board why she decided to become an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention -- when her daughter was admitted into a residential treatment facility for an eating disorder 17 years prior and she learned assistance was barely existent.
During Thursday's voting session, Snyder reminded the board and public that she isn't a mental health professional, but someone whose life was impacted by battles with mental health, and she wanted to give back.
Snyder thanked the commissioners for their support of the national event.
"With your support it continues to provide advocacy, education, resources and peer support by those who are impacted by mental health struggles," she said. "By ending the stigma we create a stronger community."
She noted that, by having her speak, it proved "we can talk about it."
"We can talk about suicide prevention. Talking about it removes the isolation for those who struggle," she said. "It created a community of help, awareness, acceptance and support."
Snyder said what a community believes about suicide prevention determines what action is taken.
"If we as a community believe nothing can be done then nothing is done and it doesn't go away," she said. "But talking about it can make it change."
Snyder said it's evident Clinton County is a community willing to speak up about suicide prevention and mental health awareness. This was evident when The Roxy Theater recently hosted speaker Kevin Hines.
"The need is very great, but the compassion is also very great," she said. "We're (NAMI) very proud to be part of a community that does talk about it."
Snyder said everyone in the community places a role in suicide prevention.
"Check in with someone, direct them to resources, ask the hard questions," she said.
Some questions Snyder went over were:
-- Are you okay?
-- Are you having thoughts of killing yourself?
-- Do you have a plan or access to weapons or things that could be used as a weapon to harm yourself?
"By asking the hard questions you're showing that you're a safe person to have that conversation with," Snyder said. "Ask what they need to feel safe. You're allowing them to give a voice to their pain."
Snyder explained that suicide prevention is giving tangible hope to those in need.
"Something to hold onto so that when we need help there's resources," she said. "The message 'you are not alone' is that you are not alone in your pain, in your struggle, in your quest for help and to be heard."