Middlesex panel looks at ways to solve mental health issues, prevent suicides

Middlesex County has averaged 10 suicides a year in the past six years!

by Larry Chowning – 

“We are not alone” was the theme of a roundtable panel on suicide and mental health presented at the historic Middlesex County courthouse on Monday, May 17. The program was designed to provide hope and help to those struggling in life, whether due to the impact of COVID-19 or because of other trials and tribulations of day-to-day life.

Middlesex County Board of Supervisors Hartfield District rep, John Koontz, said he has been encouraging more local programs to inform the public of the problems dealing with mental health issues and suicide prevention.

“Since becoming a supervisor I have found out that we have significant mental health issues in our community,” he said. “One of my goals personally as a board member was to bring attention to our mental health problems and find solutions. Then, COVID-19 hit limiting public meetings and causing an increase in mental health issues.”

Middlesex County deputy sheriff Casey Mewborn, who is trained to deal with mental health cases for the department, said that the county averages about 10 suicides a year with some years exceeding that number.

What to look for?

Some of the signs of possible suicide tendencies is when a person shows a feeling of hopelessness and they often communicate their feelings over social media. “We get calls from people who have read something on Facebook and become concerned about a person’s well-being,” said Deputy Mewborn.

“We need to look for those signs of hopelessness, pain and sorrow and be willing to show them that we care,” she said. “Sometimes it just takes a little bit of caring and attention to keep a person alive.”

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-8255. The service is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.