From left, Brad Craver and Greg Cottrell light candles during the Clermont County Candlelight Vigil on Sept. 14, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Park in Union Township. The vigil is held annually to remember those lost to suicide.
From left, Brad Craver and Greg Cottrell light candles during the Clermont County Candlelight Vigil on Sept. 14, 2016 at Veterans Memorial Park in Union Township. The vigil is held annually to remember those lost to suicide.

By Kelly Cantwell
Editor

 

The 15th annual Clermont County Candlelight Vigil on Sept. 14 remembered people lost to suicide and offered support to the family and friends left behind.

“We hope this event will not only honor your loved ones but also provide you with some peace and some support,” Lee Ann Watson, associate director of the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board, told attendees.

Suicide does not just impact the family, but it also affects friends, co-workers and the community. Watson quoted a statistic that estimated more than half of Americans have been impacted by suicide.

Suicide death numbers in the county decreased to 19 in 2015, compared to 35 in 2014 and 31 in 2013. There have been 16 deaths attributed to suicide so far this year, according to a press release.

“We’re so glad to see that. As you know, though, even one suicide is too much,” Watson said.

Since Sept. 1, 2015, to Sept. 13, 2016, 23 people’s deaths were ruled a suicide in Clermont County, and their names were read, among others, when the candles were lit.

They are making progress in prevention, but there is still more work to be done, Watson said.

“Suicide prevention really is a national healthcare issue and it’s really everybody’s business,” she said.

Anyone can help with prevention by learning the warning signs, teaching others the warning signs and teaching others that if they see warning signs they need to say something. Watson encouraged attendees to use and share the number for the Clermont County Crisis Hotline, 528-SAVE.

The crisis hotline took 2,665 calls for help in 2015. Also in 2015, the mobile crisis team made 327 runs. So far this year, the hotline has taken 2,288 calls and the team has made 224 runs, according to a press release.

Watson also invited attendees to join the Clermont County Suicide Prevention Coalition.

The vigil was held soon after National Suicide Prevention Week, was was held from Sept. 5-11 this year. The Clermont County Commissioners proclaimed the week to be Suicide Prevention Week in the county during the Aug. 31 meeting, and Commissioner Ed Humprehy read that proclamation during the vigil.

“The stigma associated with mental illness and suicidality works against suicide prevention by discouraging people at risk for suicide from seeking life-saving help and further traumatizes survivors of suicide,” Humphrey read.

The proclamation also mentioned the number of people who die by suicide, calling suicide a “serious health issue.”

Karen Scherra, the executive director of the CCMHRB, read a column by Theordore Decker that ran in the Columbus Dispatch, “Dad’s advice after daughter’s suicide inspires many.”

There are three aspects to battling suicide, Scherra told attendees, education, prevention and treatment.

Some local programs that have made an impact are the Crisis Intervention Team Training with local law enforcement and safety personnel, the crisis hotline, prevention programs in schools and programs that let people talk to someone who can emphasize.

“Help is available,” Scherra said.

After Scherra spoke, Denny Moell, assistant director of crisis services with Child Focus, read the 23 names of those lost since the last Candlelight Vigil and any other names attendees wrote down.

The vigil ended with a balloon release.

Eileen Morrow attended the event with her son, Sean, both of Batavia.

Sean Morrow lost a friend to suicide recently, and felt the event would be a way to forgive and remember. This was his and Eileen Morrow’s first time at the vigil.

Eileen Morrow found the event interesting and very touching.

“It was very nice,” Sean Morrow said, adding that this is also a way to raise awareness.

Both enjoyed the event, and would come again.

“It was all about forgiving and moving on with your life,” Eileen Morrow said.