LEONARDTOWN, Md. – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. From 1999 to 2019, suicide rates increased 33% nationally and 36% locally in St. Mary’s County.

Every year, organizations and individuals across the U.S. and around the world raise awareness of suicide prevention during September, National Suicide Prevention Month. The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) and the Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership encourage all community members to come together this September to promote suicide prevention awareness.

“We can all help prevent suicide,” said Dr. Meena Brewster, St. Mary’s County Health Officer. “In our families and friendships, it makes a difference to take the time to ask how someone is doing, listen with compassion, and arrange for professional help when you’re concerned. In our households, we can decrease the likelihood of death by suicide when we keep our firearms, medications, and alcohol stored safely and locked. In our communities, we can work together to recognize and mitigate the impact of past trauma or childhood adverse events, ensure robust access to behavioral health prevention and treatment services, and have the policies, programs, and spaces in place that encourage healthy relationships, physical activity, better sleep, and nutritious diets in our population.”

Learn More:
• SMCHD RUOK Suicide Prevention Campaign
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• CDC: Suicide Prevention
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Get Help
• If you’re experiencing an emergency: Call 9-1-1
• 24/7 Crisis Support:

• Call SMCHD at (301) 475-4330 for assistance and linkage to local resources
• Healing Conversations: Personal support for survivors of suicide loss

Join Events
• 9/8/21: Talk Saves Lives Virtual Event – An Introduction to Suicide Prevention
• 9/10/21: World Suicide Prevention Day Facebook Live Event
• 9/10/21: Wear Yellow to raise awareness on World Suicide Prevention Day; share your photos with SMCHD on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtags: #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #BeThe1ToAsk #RUOK
• 9/13/21: Continuing the Conversation Virtual Event – How to Have Meaningful Conversations about Mental Health and Suicide Prevention with Veterans
• 9/30/21: More than Sad: Suicide Prevention for Parents
• Out of the Darkness Community Walks