NORRISTOWN >> For Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale, the issue of suicide prevention hits a personal note.
After hearing a presentation from a health department taskforce ahead of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September, Gale shared his connection to a recent tragedy that made national headlines.
“I actually worked with an individual for nearly four years. Last week it was all over the media, there was a murder- suicide, it involved three children, a wife and a husband and the family dog. I worked with that individual,” Gale said. “You see tragic events like that are so devastating for all the loved ones involved, for coworkers of the victims, family and friends.”
Gale was referring to a Berks County family of five that died when the father killed his wife and children before ending his own life. The disclosure of the connection underlined that notion that so many people have been impacted by suicide, whether it claimed a family member, friend or coworker.
“It touches the point that there are people who suffer from that issue, that you are not aware of, and it’s good that we have measures to prevent outcomes that ultimately end their lives,” Gale said.
Pam Howard, from the county’s Suicide Prevention Taskforce, updated commissioners on efforts to provide resources include guidebooks and crisis lines for those who are at risk of committing suicide or those who know someone at risk.
“People on the task force speak to their neighbors, their schools, loved ones, to spread a message of hope,” Howard said.
According to county data, there were 698 deaths from suicide in the county between 2008 and 2014. White men made up the highest percentage of those deaths, with 73 percent of suicides being completed by men and 92 percent by Caucasians. Guns were used to carry out 285 of those deaths.
The county also released a map of suicide by township, showing that some parts of the county have higher rates of suicide. The Abington region was listed as the biggest “hot spot,” but also Norristown and East Norriton, Lansdale, Pottstown and the Green Lane/Marlborough/Upper Frederick/Lower Frederick region.
September also sees a spike in suicide among younger residents, as returning to school is a high time of stress. According to county data, 60 percent of all youth suicides in Montgomery County occurred in September, October or January. In the last seven years, 65 percent of the county’s public school districts have experienced a youth suicide.
“It really is an important time to pay attention to younger folks here in Montgomery County,” Howard said.
Howard urged residents to know the warning signs associated with suicide. The signs include talking about wanting to die, or about feeling hopeless, without purpose, trapped or in unbearable pain, talking about being a burden to others, increase in alcohol or drug use, mood swings, withdrawal, acting recklessly or sleeping too much or too little.
One of the purposes of the task force is to educate the community about these signs, the steps to take when you see them, and to “dispel myths about suicide,” Howard said.
“The most important one is that talking about suicide does not plant the idea of suicide, but actually has the opposite impact. It breaks down stigma and creates an environment where it is okay to get help, and that is so important for people to know,” she explained.
Those who are at risk of suicide or know someone displaying the warning signs, there are resources available, including the county’s mobile crisis hotline at 1-855-634-4673 and the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255. The Montco Children’s Crisis Support Program can be reached at 888-435-7414.
There are also “Question, Persuade, Refer” Suicide Prevention trainings open to any interested community member free of charge. For more information on training, hotlines, informational materials or getting involved in the task force, visit montcopa.org/2245/SPTF.
