Press Release: Mental Health & Recovery Board of Ashland County Spreads Suicide Awareness

Ashland Mental Health and Recovery Board 
1605 CR 1095
Ashland, OH 44805
(419) 281-3139

August 14, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mental Health & Recovery Board of Ashland County Spreads Suicide Awareness

Ashland MHRB set to host Annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness walk in the community.

Ashland, OH: The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Ashland County is pleased to announce the 4th Annual Suicide Awareness & Prevention Walk on September 27, 2020. This year’s virtual walk will allow participants to walk, run, or jog one mile independently or socially distanced with friends. While the official “walk” date is September 27, the event is open from September 21-26 for anyone to share their story on social media. There is a limited supply of t-shirts for early registrants. 

Suicide awareness is an essential component of a healthy community. Many people hold on to common misconceptions about suicide, making it harder for those who need help to seek support:

• People who die by suicide aren’t everyday people, but outsiders who must be “crazy.”
• People who die by suicide are teenagers or young adults. 
• People who die by suicide refuse—or do not know how—to deal with their problems.
• People who die by suicide are selfish.
• People who die by suicide are just giving up. 

In actuality, suicide is not reserved for “those people” on the margins of society. It can impact a range of people and communities, including those in Ashland County. Here are some data points relevant to our community:

• Over the past 5 years, Ashland County has averaged 3 suicides annually. This number is always lower than the actual, since the coroner only rules suicide when the evidence is overwhelming.
• Most suicides in Ashland are white, middle-aged men who use a firearm.
• While rates in more urban settings are on the rise, there has also been an increase in male farmers taking their own lives. We’ve started a specific outreach to farmers and their families through the “Got Your Back” campaign to address these concerning developments. 

It takes a strong, compassionate, and informed community to support those who are vulnerable. Without funding from taxpayers, outreach services would be impaired or absent from our community. Remember MHRB at the polls in November, and vote YES to renew the levy this fall. 

About Ashland MHRB: The Mental Health and Recovery Board administers the public mental health and addictions service system in Ashland County. The board provides funding and conducts the planning and evaluation activities for services provided primarily by Appleseed Community Mental Health Center, Ashland County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (ACCADA) and Catholic Charities Services of Ashland. The board prioritizes services that 1) are trauma-informed, 2) promote resiliency and recovery and 3) promote a conservative approach to the use of medication using principles of Medication Optimization.