During the month of September, communities across the country come together during National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month to raise awareness and share resources in an effort to help prevent deaths by suicide. By sharing stories, knowing the warning signs and offering support, we can all help to break the stigma around suicide and prevent these tragic deaths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with more than 49,000 people dying by suicide in 2022. In Dare County – where suicide is the ninth leading cause of death – the Breaking Through Task Force has been working diligently with community partners to spread awareness regarding this serious public health problem.
“Our goal is to further educate and empower members of the community when it comes to suicide prevention, and encourage them to join in our efforts toward prioritizing mental health,” said Kelly Fleming, Breaking Through Task Force Co-Chair and Dare County Health & Human Services Health Education and Outreach supervisor. “Together, we can truly make a difference.”
In an effort to raise awareness this month, the Task Force has has provided educational packets with suicide awareness and prevention resources to all school nurses, school counselors and social workers, Dare County town managers, Dare County department heads and the Dare County Board of Commissioners. We also have a webpage dedicated to suicide information and education, and created a social 2024 Suicide Awareness & Prevention social media tool kit that anyone in the community is welcome to use on their individual or business pages.
In May, the Breaking Through Task Force partnered with the Dare County Department of Health & Human Resources (DCDHHS), the Saving Lives Task Force, SMART Recovery and other dedicated community members to host an Out of the Shadows Suicide Awareness Walk. And this fall, the Task Force and DCDHHS have partnered with UNC Chapel Hill to participate in a study on suicide in Dare County titled The Impact of Cultural Nuances and Contextual Factors on Mental Health/Well-being Perceptions among Residents Aged 20-34 years in Dare County,
The Task Force was honored to receive a $5,000 grant this summer through the Outer Banks Community Foundation for suicide awareness and prevention and looks forward to continuing to expand efforts toward suicide awareness and prevention.
To learn more about suicide prevention in Dare County, please visit the new page developed by the Task Force and view Shattering the Silence, a documentary about suicide in Dare County that shares the stories of six Dare County residents who have been impacted by suicide. And if you or someone you know is experiencing mental health-related distress or is in crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or via chat at 988lifeline.org.
The Breaking Though Task Force is a group of Dare County community members and professionals dedicated to breaking mental health stigma through education, awareness and connecting individuals to resources. The task force was formed in 2016 by Healthy Carolinians of the Outer Banks in response to a recent Community Health Needs Assessment indicating mental health as a top public health concern. For more information on the Breaking Through Task Force, please visit www.breakthestigmaobx.com.