Community Corner
Suicide Prevention is Life-Saving
Margaret Terwillegar

A twenty-four hour crisis hotline is now available for all of Clermont County at (513) 528-SAVE (528-7283). The purpose of this hotline is to prevent suicide attempts. Professionals who are able to help a person in crisis as well as to advise a worried friend or family member will answer the phone. Because of the large number of lives lost to suicide, (thirty-three in Clermont County in the calendar year 2002 according to the Coroner°s Office), the need is evident. It is probable that fewer than half of actual suicides are included in official statistics.

The crisis hotline is one part of the suicide prevention program in Clermont County. The Clermont County Mental Health Board applied for and received a grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health to develop a program.

In March, 2003, the Clermont County Suicide Coalition was formed with the responsibility of writing and implementing a suicide prevention plan. Members are representatives of groups within the community who work in areas such as mental health, public safety, senior services, and services to children and youth. Other members are persons who have a special interest in suicide prevention. A consultant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health provided information to the local coalition. When we become aware that over 30,000 people in the United States are lost to suicide each year, and that in the past 100 years suicides outnumbered homicides by a rate of 3 to 2, we understand how great the need is.

Several educational services have been developed and are available to groups in the county. These include:
1) Awareness programs available to all interested groups in Clermont County.
2) Education programs containing information about awareness, signs or symptoms, and available resources.
3) Printed materials
4) Web page: www.ccmhrb.org
5) School services.

To obtain information and/or arrange for programs, interested groups should contact Liz Atwell, eastern area director of the Mental Health Association, at (513) 724-9222, or mhaclermont@fuse.net.

Anyone who is in a position to notice that someone may be seriously depressed can learn to be a "gatekeeper", someone who is prepared to offer hope and to assist the person in crisis in obtaining professional help. Anyone of us can become a "gatekeeper". We might be able to help save a life.

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