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Partners Health Management and the Davie County Collaborative are working together to promote suicide awareness and prevention at an upcoming community discussion on May 7 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Davie County Public Library, 371 N. Main St., Mocksville.

Mental health professionals will be on-site. The goal is to have an open discussion about suicide as well as gauging local interest in future training opportunities.

Nationally, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death. In 2020, there were an estimated 1.2 million suicide attempts in the United States and 45,979 people died by suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (APSP).

North Carolina reported that 1,436, or 59.3%, of violent deaths reported in 2020 were suicides, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). In 2022, there were 54,770 suicidal ideation-related emergency department (ED) visits and about 14,154 self-inflicted injury-related ED visits reported.

In Davie County, it was reported that from October 2022 through September 2023, there were more than 120 ED visits due to self-inflicted injuries.

“We are holding this event because we want to encourage an open discussion about suicide in the hope of raising awareness and saving lives in Davie County,” said Teena Thompson with the Davie County Collaborative.

The suicide awareness event on May 7 will feature videos showing the effects of suicide from the family and community perspectives.

“These videos can encourage people to talk openly about suicide. Our hope is that they will help strengthen the communities we serve and improve the lives of individuals at risk,” said Beth Brooks, an event organizer and member engagement supervisor with Partners Health Management.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call the Partners Behavioral Health Crisis Line 24/7/365 at 833-353-2093 or visit www.partnersbhm.org/crisis-help/.

Call or text 988 or chat via 988lifeline.org/chat/ for crisis support for yourself or a loved one. No matter where you live in the U.S., you can use 988 to get 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors for help with mental health-related distress including thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.