Over the past three years, 249 Bucks County have died by suicide, according to reports from the county’s coroner office.
The Family Service Association, a nonprofit social service organization based in Middletown, asserts that for every person that dies of a completed suicide, there are 24 more who attempt, placing the rate of suicide as a significant public health issue.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide remains the second highest cause of death for people aged 15-24 and 24-36. The suicide rate is also four times higher for males than for females.
According to national statistics, someone dies by suicide every 13 minutes.
The county organization said in a recent press release that for every resident who commits suicide, it has intimate and devastating affects on at least 18 of that person’s loved ones, meaning just in the last three years nearly 4,500 Bucks County residents have suffered a loved one taking their own life.
Suicide is preventable, and those in distress are encouraged to call the Family Service CONTACT Helpline at 215-355-6000 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
Staff and volunteers, who are specially trained, answer nearly 1,000 calls for help each month and ultimately save lives.
“I called [the] hotline and was connected to a volunteer. She saved my life. To say her kindness and empathy gave me hope is an understatement. My son who was in the house that day also wants to thank her. She saved his life, too, by helping me. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” said one resident who called the lifeline.
The volunteers who answer these calls for help make a real difference in the county and more community members are encouraged to join the effort.
According to the Family Service Association, volunteers are everyday citizens who undergo classroom and on-the-job training until they’re comfortable answering calls on their own. Not all calls are from suicidal individuals and some callers are struggling with the effects of anxiety or depression and don’t know where to turn for help. Others have limited social interactions and just want someone who is willing to listen. All callers are seeking relief from distress.
Starting September 1, the call centers will have expanded hours and will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week.
The next series of training classes will take place on Mondays starting September 18 through October 30. To register for training, contact Director of Volunteer Services Ellen Vinson at volunteer@fsabc.org or 215-757-6916, ext. 202 or complete the online application at www.fsabc.org/volunteer.
