People walk along Main Street, Lake Placid, on Sept. 15. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Death by suicide has impacted many families in the North Country. A decade ago, suicide deaths in Essex County were in the double digits, resulting in the sad distinction of our county having one of the highest rates in the state.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the members of the Essex County Coalition and its partners, those rates were radically reduced. Unfortunately, deaths by suicide have been increasing of late — a signal that we need to work harder to keep all people safe.

There is no question that the stressors coming out of COVID, increasing economic inequalities and challenging economic circumstances are contributing factors, but so are online bullying, increasing levels of negative civil discourse and the growing access to guns — the number one means by which people take their lives.

“It takes incredible strength to be open about our mental health and our connection to suicide,” said Missy Stofi, executive director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Regional Chapter. “As all of us know too well, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Suicide is a public health issue that doesn’t discriminate; it can impact any community. Suicide can be prevented. It takes all of us to keep suicide prevention in the forefront and to get involved in this fight.”

Rarely does a person take their life for a single reason. Usually, it’s a result of a combination of risk factors, one of which is knowing or knowing of another who died by suicide.

Missy Stofi, executive director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Regional Chapter, and Tina Terry Preston, walk chair (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

The stressors may include childhood abuse or trauma. The trauma may be caused by death, divorce, job loss or a life-altering experience, loss of a home to fire or flooding. The person may be living with depression, a substance abuse problem, some other mental health condition or living with acute pain.

On Sunday, Sept. 15, the Essex County Coalition held its Out of Darkness Walk at the Olympic Speedskating Oval in Lake Placid. The event concluded with participants walking around Mirror Lake carrying signs urging people to learn how they can help reduce suicide and seek help.

One of the organizers and walkers, Bonnie Black, now living in Plattsburgh, serves on the board of the Capital Region Chapter, is chair of the Clinton County Coalition to Prevent Suicide and is the coordinator of the Clinton County Postvention Team.

“Preventing suicide is near and dear to my heart,” said Black. “I have lost family and friends to suicide. Learning more about current research on the causes of suicide has helped me better understand some of the situations people feel they are in when they are so desperate and in pain. All I do now is go around the state and share evidence-based suicide prevention and postvention training. We will have a training in October at the Essex County Mental Health Association and three sessions in Clinton County for military veterans and their families in October and November. All our trainings are at no charge.”

Critical is watching for signs that people considering suicide say. They may mention that they are considering killing themselves, feel hopeless, that they are a burden to others and have no reason to live. They may increase their use of alcohol or drugs, start isolating themselves from family and friends or give away prized possessions. They may display a loss of interest, irritability, rage, anxiety, depression or feel humiliated.

Glenn Mary Colby and Alan Matheson (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

If you become concerned about someone, talk with them, tell them you care and take their concerns seriously. Let them know that they matter to you. If they feel they can’t be helped, remind them that suffering is temporary and encourage them to speak with a professional. Critical is helping a person feel heard and know that they are not alone with their feelings. Do not be afraid to be direct and ask them if they are considering suicide.

People are increasingly feeling isolated. Vital is helping them get engaged with real people, not so much with those they meet online. Every community is filled with agencies desperate for volunteers, and through volunteering, they can help make a difference in the lives of others and in their own lives.

How we talk about suicide matters; saying that the person committed suicide and is now no longer in pain is not helpful as it sends the wrong message to others who might be in pain and feeling overwhelmed by their circumstances. A suicide causes pain in many others, leads to heartbreak and can stimulate other suicides. We all need to work together to keep everyone in our community safe and help them lead a fulfilling and productive life as we all benefit.

“It’s going to take us all working together and supporting one another,” said Terri Morse, director of Essex County Mental Health and Community Services. “Reach out. It makes people feel vulnerable when they reach out for help, and us to reach out to them, we’re all in this together.”

“I participated in the walk around the lake because I have a friend who recently lost her son to suicide,” said Glenn Mary Colby. “And because I know other people who have lost family and friends to suicide. We need more people helping to prevent suicide.”

“I’m an Iraqi War vet,” said Alan Matheson. “I have lost friends to suicide. Too, too many veterans have died by suicide.”

Matheson’s concerns are real. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, death by suicide by active duty and veteran service men and women is four times as large as those who died in combat, according to a 2021 Costs of War research project of Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. As we have a lot of veterans living in our region, doing all we can to support them will make a difference.

Another increasingly high-risk group is the youth. Kelly Van Applevorn, clinical outreach manager with Charlie Health, attended to provide information on how to help preteens and young adults.

“We offer a six-to-eight-week online program with no waitlist; people can begin whenever they wish,” said Van Applevorn. “We provide facilitated group and individual one-on-one therapy, a 360-degree approach for people who come to us. By being virtual, we provide access to care that many people find difficult to achieve otherwise. We aim to keep people out of hospitals and emergency rooms when it’s safe for them to do so.”

For information on how you can get involved, contact Terri Morse, Essex County Mental Health, 518-873-3670.

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley and has been writing his column for the Lake Placid News since 2005.)