In-depth: Suicide statistics concern the community

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The latest statistics on suicide are concerning as the number of deaths increases and the age of those individuals is starting to drop.

Duane Piccirilli, director of the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board, says suicides have increased every year since 2021 and the number continues to grow.

“What we saw the last couple of years is the suicide rate climb, especially with men. And it was older men. It was men in their 70s and 80s,” Piccirilli said. “This year we’ve had 29 since January. It’s again, 80 percent men but the age is starting to drop. Now we’re seeing 30 and 40-year-olds taking their lives.”

Piccirilli said the pandemic was the perfect storm because people were isolated, especially affecting the recovery community which depends on fellowship and support groups. Rates have continued to rise since then.

Piccirilli stresses the importance of mental health care and that it is, in fact, healthcare.

“What we found is that a lot of people that take their lives will visit their primary doctor six weeks or so before they take their life,” he said.

He says that typically women will say they feel depressed whereas men are “great actors” and don’t want to admit they are depressed. They will instead say they can’t sleep at night or their chest is tight.

Most primary care physicians will do depression screenings asking questions like, “Do you feel sadness?”

“And there’s some things people will say, like, you know, “I just want to go to sleep or not wake up,” Piccirilli said.

Those phrases are something people can look out for and to get immediate help, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

“And Ohio has done an outstanding job promoting that number. And, you know, so at the last moment, it’s easy to remember,” Piccirilli said.

The in-depth discussion about suicide statistics and mental health care continues Wednesday.

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