Lorain County Suicide Prevention Coalition offers resources, hope to end deaths by suicide

SHEFFIELD TOWNSHIP — Grappling with a spike in suicides at the end of last year, the Lorain County Suicide Prevention Coalition met Tuesday to discuss the group's efforts to provide hope and resources to those struggling in Lorain County. Preliminary data for 2025 shows there were more than 50 individuals who took their own lives in the county, with a spike starting in October and continuing through the end of the year, coalition Chairperson Rebecca Jones said Tuesday. Recognizing how difficult it is to talk about suicide, she said the call to action comes from the data and that the coalition officers a number of trainings for organizations to help reduce stigma and provide resources to those in need, including culturally competent messaging to communities of color, seniors and veterans. Lorain County Public Health strategist Sam Meluch said Lorain County, on average, sees about 50 deaths from suicide each year, noting even one death is still too many. Statistically, men are more likely to die by suicide than women, and recent trends have shown an increase in rates among middle-aged men, while deaths have decreased for younger individuals. "We are a very resilient community," she said. "There are many compassionate people in the community who want to be able to help each other out and that speaks volumes." The preliminary data in 2025 shows there is still need to collaborate, as mental and behavioral health are complex public health problems with no one solution. The county Suicide Prevention Coalition's goal is to break down stigma surrounding suicide and provide information, like connections to the 988 crisis helpline and textlines, alongside specialized programs for at-risk groups like veterans to ultimately end deaths by suicide in the county. Daniel Bennett, director of statewide prevention and expansion for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, said Lorain County is not alone in its recent increase in suicide deaths, noting a preliminary trend across the state, though data will not be finalized until next month. Suicide has affected communities across Ohio, he said, and highlighted a need for coalition members to reach out to nontraditional partners, like a group in Delaware County that hosts a suicide prevention coalition meeting at a local gun range. The majority of suicides in Ohio involve a firearm, he said, and firearms owners and groups have to be included in the conversation to move the needle in the right direction. Ultimately, the message is about hope, Bennett said. Suicide rates across the country have increased, but in a given year, there are more than 12 million individuals with suicidal ideation, he said — meaning 99 percent of those individuals are alive the next year. There is an idea that suicide is inevitable, he said, but it is not — it can be prevented through resources and getting individuals help. In Lorain County, the Crisis Recovery Center is available for individuals in a mental health crisis, as well as mobile response stabilization services for youth under 21 years old. For more information, including resources and how to join the Suicide Prevention Coalition, visit the Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery Services Board of Lorain County at mharslc.org. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com. HELP IS AVAILABLEIf you, or someone you know, is in a mental health crisis, dial 988.