Health officials spread suicide awareness during National Prevention Suicide Month

Wicomico County, Md.- September is National Prevention Suicide Month, and local health officials are offering connections to help.

Each year more than 700 thousand people take their own lives, and every case of course severely impacts the victims’ families and communities.

Wicomico County Health Department officials say focusing on suicide prevention is important not just to provide hope, but also for building community connections and raising awareness.

Jessica Taylor a program coordinator with the department says “Tell somebody what your feeling and your thoughts what you’re experiencing the more we talk about what’s going on with us the more people are able to help us maybe they have resources that we’re not aware of if we’re the ones struggling.”

Taylor also said “We have to be okay with expressing how we’re feeling because if we don’t people aren’t going to understand. If we don’t talk about it we’ll remain in the darkness.”

Reaching out to your loved ones for their mental health and well-being could be lifesaving.

Taylor says that it’s important to ask questions “And ask the hard questions are you experiencing suicidal thoughts often times we’re afraid of what that answer might be, but prepare ourselves, remain calm, and let them know that you’re going to walk with them through this process even through the dark times.” and “letting them know that they are loved, they are worth it and there is help that is available if they want it.”

Another important detail is they also provide Mental Health First Aid trainings to help the community determine if someone is in crisis and assist whomever.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available call or their website.

The Wicomico County Health Department has resources available on their website .

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