BUCYRUS ― Suicide is an issue that many people may not want to think about or discuss but it is also an issue that affects all of Crawford County, according to recent data. During the past decade, 59 Crawford County residents lost their lives to suicide.

Kate Siefert, health commissioner of Crawford County Public Health, joined forces with Brad DeCamp, executive director of the Crawford-Marion Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board, to create a report, “Suicide in Crawford County: An Overview of Suicide Trends,” 2007 to 2017.

According to the report, there were 1,734 suicide completions throughout Ohio in 2017, which averages to approximately 4.75 completed suicides per day.

“This makes the issue of suicide and the effects it has on the families and friends of people who die from suicide a serious public health issue,” Siefert said.

Siefert said she worked with the Ohio Department of Health to compile the statistics for Crawford County.

“The way the process works with suicide is that the death is recorded in the county in which it occurred, not by the county in which the person resided,” Siefert said. “I received copies of the reports for Crawford County residents that died due to suicide in the past 10 years to be able to have accurate and up-to-date information.”

Of the 59 deaths attributed to suicide in Crawford County during the past 10 years, 50 were male and nine were females. While there were five deaths in 2017 from suicide, there were nine deaths in 2016, the most in any one-year period of those included in the report.

Of the 59 deaths, 44 of the people resided in the Bucyrus and Galion zip codes.

Siefert said of the 59 suicides, the most common manner of death was gunshot wounds, with 34 of the cases being such, while hanging was the second most common being used by 11 people.

Intentional substance abuse was the third most common manner of death.

“This is different than unintentional overdoses which are not considered suicide,” Siefert said.

Siefert said she was surprised at the average age of people that have lost their lives to suicide in the past decade.

“Many times, we think of young people committing or attempting suicide, but the average age is 44-and-a-half years old,” Siefert said.

She said of the 59 incidents of suicide completion, 20 were factory workers.

Warning signs of people that may be thinking about suicide include:

  • Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
  • Talking about feeling empty, hopeless, or having no reason to live
  • Planning or looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online, stockpiling pills, or newly acquiring potentially lethal items (e.g., firearms, ropes)
  • Talking about great guilt or shame
  • Talking about feeling trapped or feeling that there are no solutions
  • Feeling unbearable pain, both physical or emotional
  • Talking about being a burden to others
  • Using alcohol or drugs more often
  • Acting anxious or agitated
  • Withdrawing from family and friends
  • Changing eating and/or sleeping habits
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
  • Taking risks that could lead to death, such as reckless driving
  • Talking or thinking about death often
  • Displaying extreme mood swings, suddenly changing from very sad to very calm or happy
  • Giving away important possessions
  • Saying goodbye to friends and family
  • Putting affairs in order, making a will

(Source: National Institute of Mental Health.)

DeCamp said we need to create an environment in which the stigma of mental health issues and suicide is removed. According to the report, increased awareness and understanding work to strengthen suicide prevention practices that can be successfully planned and implemented in our community.

He has secured the rights to the movie, “Suicide: The Ripple Effect,” which chronicles the suicide attempt of Kevin Hines, who jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge.

“It is an excellent movie that we hope will get people talking about this issue,” DeCamp said.

The movie will be shown Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Bucyrus Elementary Auditorium, 245 Woodlawn Ave.

A question and answer session will follow the movie.

“We are showing it in Bucyrus this week and will be showing it throughout the county in the future, including in Galion, Crestline and New Washington,” DeCamp said.

For more information about suicide prevention and to view the report, visit the Crawford County Public Health website.