ASHLAND — Ten suicides were reported in Ashland County in 2024.
David Ross, executive director of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County, shared statistics Thursday morning ahead of nationwide Suicide Prevention Month in September.
Ross told the Ashland County Board of Commissioners that 2024 is currently the most complete data for statistical and review purposes.
The number of suicides in 2024 (10) was an increase from 2023 (six), according to Ross, who reported the five-year average is eight per year. Ashland County suicides from that year (eight females and two males) range from ages 22 to 73, an average age of 46.
Firearms were the leading mean used to commit the act in these cases (four of 10).
Ross said he and other local health officials and law enforcement meet to review local suicide deaths and discuss proactive solutions and prevention efforts to deploy moving forward.
In 2024, 48,824 suicide-related deaths were reported across the country — down 1 percent from the year prior.
“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults (ages) 15 to 34,” Ross said. “That’s why we and our provider partners have focused so much on our middle (and) high school and college age (students). We do a lot of suicide prevention efforts in those age ranges because of how high the numbers are.”
Ohioans experiencing a mental health or addiction crisis, and their family members, can call, text or chat the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to reach a trained specialist for help and support, according to the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. It is freely available around the clock, as well as confidential.
What are the contributing factors locally?
Ross said there are four main contributing factors to local suicides that were identified by the local task force which reviews the cases.
- Mental health
- Medication issues
- Relationship instability/loss
- Life stress and isolation
Recommendations for efforts moving forward
Given the contributing factors identified locally, Ross shared a list of recommendations for prevention efforts moving forward.
- Expansion of mental health support:
- Increase school-based mental health services.
- Implement additional education about the importance of not abruptly discontinuing medications or withdrawing in collaboration with doctor.
- Expand crisis follow-up services after ER visits.
Ross said school-based mental health education and suicide prevention efforts begin as early as kindergarten, but are tailored appropriately to each age group.
“It’s so much more about making friends and how to be a friend (with earlier age groups),” he said. “We don’t get to drug/alcohol or suicide (subjects) until the high school level.”
- Firearm safety:
- Promote safe firearm storage (Lethal Means Safety).
Ross said safe firearm storage is not about taking guns away. The focus is delaying access to a firearm even by a few seconds.
“Any delay allows for the person’s natural ambivalence to come into play and say, ‘Wait a minute,'” he said.
- Enhance support during major life transitions:
- Identify high-risk periods (relationship separations, job loss, chronic illness, etc.)
- Provide community education on the relationship between substance use and suicide.
- Promote programs aimed at reducing isolation, particularly among older adults and at-risk groups.
One group Ross said he hopes to increase efforts among is local farmers and the agricultural community.
“This is not a group that typically wants to get off a tractor and come into an office to get an appointment. They’re just too busy to do that,” Ross said. “We have to find a way to bring services to them, whether that’s a phone call or over video.”
“We’ve got some models that I’m hopeful that I might be back in front of you (commissioners) in a few months to present,” he said.
- Continuance and expansion of bullying and abuse prevention for minors.
Events and efforts set in September
The Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County has several events and efforts planned for September, including:
- Weekly social media and email educational posts.
- A spotlight on the Griever’s Support Group and QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer).
- Incorporating access to Lethal Means Safety into QPR trainings to adult/young adult audiences.
- Podcasts
- Distributing resources at the Ashland County Fair, with specific outreach to farmers, the agricultural community and vets.
- A Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk on Sept. 27 from 2 to 4 p.m.
