I’m not here to talk about gun safety and all that stuff, but I would like to bring attention to the mental health part of this.”

Carol Kneier, Northeast Suicide Prevention Initiative Committee

HONESDALE, PA — “All people in Wayne County deserve the opportunity to live healthy and satisfying lives, and no community member should have their life cut short as the result of undertreated or untreated mental health conditions.”

On September 5, the Wayne County Commissioners adopted their Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month Proclamation, with these words included, to designate September Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. There to accept the proclamation were members of the Northeast Suicide Prevention Initiative (NSPI) Committee. 

Committee co-chair Carol Kneier said that so far in this year alone, there have been six suicides in Wayne County. All were men, and all were by gunshot.

Wayne County has seen an average of 10 deaths by suicide per year over the past few years, most by gunshot. 

“I’m not here to talk about gun safety and all that stuff,” Kneier said, “but I would like to bring attention to the mental health part of this.” 

She said one of NSPI’s main goals is to increase awareness that help is available to those who need it. She said NSPI works with communities and organizations to provide training, such as mental health first aid, to all interested people in the community.

NSPI holds an annual Wayne/Pike Suicide Prevention and Remembrance Walk, to be held this year on Saturday, September 14, at Wallenpaupack Area High School on Route 6 in Hawley. Registration opens at 10:30 a.m., and the program begins at 11 a.m. The walk will start directly following the program. There will also be refreshments, giveaways and basket raffles. For more information about the Remembrance Walk, visit the Northeast Suicide Prevention Initiative page.

A preventable tragedy

Suicide is one of the most devastating losses that any family, friend or community can suffer. The Wayne County proclamation emphasizes that suicide is largely preventable and urges community members to learn warning signs and where to get support for people in distress, and to reach out for help in times of need.

One person dies by suicide approximately every five hours, the proclamation states, making suicide the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.

The proclamation ended with a call to all Wayne County residents to “recognize this special observance and participate in efforts to raise awareness and support survivors of suicide loss.”

“The mental health issue does not leave our minds on a daily basis, ever,” said Commissioner Jocelyn Cramer.

In addition to the 988 national hotline, the Center for Community Resources in Wayne County also has a 24/7 hotline for anyone in need. The county is also working on establishing a behavioral health urgent care center in Honesdale for anyone who needs mental health care immediately or for a few days. If you or someone you know is struggling, call:

• New Perspective Crisis—570/992-0879 (Pike County)
• Center for Community Resources—833/55REACH (Wayne County)
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline—800/273-TALK or dial 988