Bucks County officials have taken the wraps off a new public service awareness campaign aimed at combating rising suicide rates by promoting mental health awareness and encouraging residents to check in on one another throughout the year.
The initiative was spearheaded by the Bucks County Suicide Prevention Task Force with support from the Bucks County Commissioners, Bucks County Coroner’s Office, and Bucks County Behavioral Health/Developmental Programs Department.
The public service awareness effort comes in response to preliminary data showing 100 suicide deaths in the county in 2024 – an average of roughly two people per week.
“We’ve seen an increase not just in numbers over the past two years, but an increase in suicide rate itself because as the numbers have gone up, our population really has not increased,” said Tom Roskowski, one of the three co-chairs of the Bucks County Suicide Prevention Task Force.
The PSA videos were presented at the January commissioners’ meeting and points to the importance of social connections in countering suicide risk factors.
“We want to be able to promote those healthy connections and be able to build and maintain that social connectedness between others,” Roskowski said.
He highlighted simple actions that can make a difference, such as making a phone call, sending a text, or having a brief conversation with a coworker.
“Sometimes those little helpful moments could be that moment that lets them know that somebody cares,” Roskowski added.
Keeley Rosenthal, of the county’s Behavioral Health Department, stressed the importance of recognizing when loved ones may be struggling.
“Notice friends, family and loved ones. If they seem off, don’t leave them alone,” Rosenthal said. “Ask and keep asking to let them know that you care and you’re here for them.”
The campaign encourages residents to reach out with specific questions like, “Hey, I noticed you haven’t really been yourself lately. Is everything okay?”
Rosenthal said that it’s OK if someone isn’t feeling okay and advised thanking them for sharing their feelings.
“Let them know that there’s hope and there’s help and that you or they don’t have to do this alone,” she said.
The PSA reminds viewers that the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available for those experiencing mental health crises, emotional distress, or substance use concerns.
Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a social worker, highlighted the timeliness of the presentation, noting the potential struggles some face after the holiday season.
“It is never an easy time or a good time to talk about suicide. But the county has become concerned because of increased numbers that we are seeing,” Ellis-Marseglia said.
She expressed hope that suicide prevention would become a “top level discussion throughout this county” in the coming year.
The task force’s efforts extend beyond the PSA campaign.
In 2024, they educated 700 participants through nearly 30 community engagements, including public events and professional training events, officials said.
Roskowski highlighted the importance of outreach to hotels and motels and stated that 75 percent of survivors have had interactions in these settings, according to national data.
The task force provided outreach to over 16 motels and hotels in Bucks County last year.
“This year is especially notable for me, myself and the coalition because this was the first year that we had a hotel say to us, ‘Yes, we think this is happening here and we need your help,'” Rosowski said.
The task force has also focused on training medical providers, who are uniquely positioned to interact with individuals at risk.
For more information on local suicide prevention resources, residents are encouraged to visit holdonyoumatter.com.
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