Suicide Prevention Coalition holds service
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the state of Ohio.
This was just one of the many startling figures shared during the Coshocton County Suicide Prevention Coalition remembrance service.
The service was organized by Shelley McCarty and held Sept. 13, during Suicide Prevention Awareness Week, at the court square in memory of those who died from suicide, struggle with the pain of suicidal thoughts or lost someone to suicide.
The crowd was small, but as Mayor Steve Mercer explained it only takes one person to make a difference.
Tom Wilson, who is involved with the Coshocton County Suicide Prevention Coalition along with McCarty, hoped that those in attendance would help create awareness about the problem of suicide.
“People who are thinking about suicide are not alone,” he said. “It is preventable. Suicide does not discriminate. It knows no race, gender or age. It’s a community issue and it will take the community to do something about it.”
While reading his proclamation, Mercer stated that every 14.2 minutes a person completes suicide in the United States.
Suicide also is becoming the most common way that members of the United States service branches die outside of combat.
“One in four noncombat deaths are from suicide,” said Herb Tidrick from the Veterans Service Office.
The facts shared by Tidrick and Mercer were accompanied by beautiful music by Mary McCune and prayers by Lloyd Tenney.
The crowd also joined together with their lit candles to sing Amazing Grace while they remembered loved ones.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
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