Staff report

MINERAL RIDGE — A free community conversation on suicide will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Campus of Care, 1960 E. County Line Road. The town hall-style event is co-sponsored by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board.

“Five Ohioans die by suicide each day. Every death is tragic, but the steady increase in suicides in the Mahoning Valley is particularly concerning,” said OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn. “When our colleagues at the county mental health board reached out for help, we were proud to answer the call and look forward to bringing the community together for a tough, but essential conversation on how we all can play a role in saving lives.”

State and local leaders will discuss the rising rate of suicide in Mahoning County, examine warning signs and ways to help those experiencing a mental health crisis, share vital resources and brainstorm ideas to inform a localized suicide prevention action plan. The evening will feature remarks from a variety of state and local officials, panel discussions, resource tables and refreshments.

“Over the past several years, the number of people taking their own lives has increased at an alarming rate,” said MHRB Executive Director Duane Piccirilli. “Our community reached out to our state partner to help us address this issue and come up with a plan of action. We are excited for the support of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.”

Mahoning County saw 41 suicide deaths in 2021, 44 in 2022, and 53 in 2023. So far this year, the county has documented 29 suicide deaths, and is on pace to reach a new high for the fourth consecutive year, according to the MHRB.

Statewide, suicide ranks as the 13th-leading cause of death among all Ohioans and the second-leading cause of death among Ohioans ages 10-14 and 20-34, according to the latest statistics from the Ohio Department of Health. In 2022, there were 1,797 suicide deaths, up from 1,766 in 2021. Males accounted for 80% of Ohio suicide deaths and Ohioans between the ages of 35-44 had the highest rate of suicide deaths.

“Under Gov. DeWine’s leadership, Ohio is committed to prioritizing access to community mental health services and supports,” Cornyn said. Help is available; you are never alone. This community conversation is an important step toward stemming the tide of suicide deaths and connecting Ohioans to vital services and supports before it’s too late.”

Doors open at 6 p.m. and formal remarks begin at 6:30 p.m.

At 5 p.m., the MHRB is hosting a free “Question, Persuade, and Refer” suicide prevention training for community members who want to learn how to identify and connect at-risk individuals to support services.