Representatives from Coral Isles Church accepted the proclamation declaring September National Suicide Prevention and Action Month made by Mayor Craig Cates and the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday. KRISTEN LIVENGOOD/Monroe County

#988: COMMISSIONERS DECLARE SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION AND ACTION MONTH

MONROE COUNTY – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners declared September as National Suicide Prevention and Action Month. The proclamation was created to raise the visibility of mental health and proactive suicide prevention resources in our community.

“We want to start the conversation, destigmatize it, and help connect people with the appropriate support services,” said Mayor Craig Cates in the proclamation. “Monroe County publicly places its full support behind those who work in mental health, education, and law enforcement.”

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, with more than 48,000 people dying by suicide annually in the United States.

“We encourage all residents to take time to understand mental health through education and recognize that we need to take care of our mental health while we care for each other,” he said.

If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing #988 on any phone. Locally, someone can also call the Guidance/Care Center’s 24-hour hotline for behavioral health crises at 305-434-7660, press 8.

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