From 1999-2016 , there was an 18.9% INCREASE
POTENTIAL SIGNS O F T HO U G H T S O F S U I C I D E
SUICIDE AS A LEADING C A U S E O F D E AT H 11 th 5 th 2 nd 4 th 10 th 16 th in Texas in ages 15-34 in ages 35-44
in the suicide rate across the state of Texas.
RECENT TRENDS:
Experts say certain signs may indicate and individual is at risk for suicidal thoughts or attempts, but there are steps others can take to help them. Here are some signs to watch for:
The number of suicides per 100,000 has increased since 2008 in Texas.
in ages 45-54
11 13 14 12
Feeling like a burden Being isolated Increased anxiety Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain Increased substance use Looking for a way to access lethal means
Increased anger or rage Extreme mood swings Expressing hopelessness Sleeping too little or too much Talking or posting online about wanting to die Making plans for suicide
in ages 55-64
in ages 65+
SOURCE:AMERICANFOUNDATIONOFSUICIDEPREVENTION/ COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER
Another issue across the state is a lack of resources for those seeking help for their mental health. The Woodlands area has multi- ple nearby offerings, such as Montgom- ery County Youth Services, Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare, and The Wood- lands Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, but Mack said he believes there still are not enough psychiatric hospi- tals across the state. “I believe there are 150 or 160 coun- ties in Texas that don’t even have a psy- chiatrist ... in their county,” he said. Part of the battle against suicide, he added, is raising awareness. “Any understanding and education we can provide to our citizens about this issue, I think will be empower- ing,” Mack said. Evan Roberson, executive director of Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare, said the organization’s number of patients in need of crisis services have increased over the past three years, with last year showing a growth of nearly 20 percent growth and this year anticipated to be the same. “In the first four months of the year, we had already utilized half of our total funding,” Roberson said. “Usually, the first four months are our slower months. We’re concerned about the pace we’re on for folks showing up in crisis. A lot of those people are
CONTINUED FROM 1
suicidal … but we’re see- ing an increase in persons seeing crisis mental health care across our service area.” Despite the increasing numbers, Roberson said there are positives as well, as he believes the numbers show the stigma of seeking help is beginning to fade. “You can’t underestimate popula- tion growth. Montgomery County is literally just getting bigger; some of the increased demand is a factor of that,” Roberson said. “More people are say- ing, ‘I have a problem, I’m going to get treatment.’ Previously, people just bur- ied it.” LOCAL, STATE EFFORTS While the number of suicides across the state and county has been increas- ing in recent years, The Woodlands Township has actually seen a slight decrease in suicides from 2017 to the present, Montgomery County sheriff’s office Capt. Tim Holifield said. “For 2017, Montgomery County recorded 11 suicides in The Woodlands Township,” Holifield said. “In 2018, we had 10 suicides in The Woodlands Township.” What the sheriff’s office is seeing spike, however, is the number of wel- fare checks on people contemplating
Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack spoke of the statistics at The Woodlands Township board of direc- tors meeting Jan. 23 and discussed what is being done to combat the issue. “We need to have a community response,” Mack said. “Collaboration is the key; everybody needs to be on the same page.” A ‘SILENT EPIDEMIC’ Montgomery County saw an aver- age of two or three successful suicide attempts per week last year, Mack said. He said his inquests indicated there had been around five suspected sui- cides in the previous 10 days this year. “Suicide, in our nation, is a silent epidemic,” Mack said. “It is the sec- ond-leading cause of death between the ages of 10 and 35.” Following Mack’s presentation, board of directors Chairman Gordy Bunch said the statistics he has seen indicate there is a higher number of attempts in affluent communities, such as The Woodlands, which he believes are because of the expectations and pressure to succeed and do well. “There are people that don’t present like they have suicidal tendencies,” Bunch said. “And yet they still occur. Mental health is an issue that is hidden a lot of times.”
SOURCE:CENTERFORDISEASECONTROLANDPREVENTION /COMMUNITY IMPACTNEWSPAPER
suicide and successful inter- ventions in The Woodlands Town- ship. Holifield said there has been an increase in the number of welfare checks from 47 to 111 there. “We have actually intervened and gotten them help,” Holifield said. “We’re seeing those numbers trending up, and that’s what it should do. It’s a law enforcement response to a com- munity problem.” However, Justice of the Peace for Pre- cinct 3 Matt Beasley said any number of suicides is a problem for the com- munity. Mack has formed a community task force to continue facing the issue head-on. The task force will meet for the first time May 16 at the Lone Star Conven- tion Center in Conroe, which Mack said will be promoted through social and traditional media. Local groups formed to increase sui- cide awareness include Cassidy Joined for Hope. The organization, led by founder and The Woodlands resident Kim Hess, who lost her daughter to suicide in 2015, focuses on spreading awareness in area schools to prevent teen suicide. “We knew the answer and part of
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