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Suicide rates in Holmes County among lowest in Ohio

The Daily Record - 12/9/2019

MILLERSBURG — A recent report released by the state of Ohio shows that suicide rates in Holmes County are among the lowest in the state.

Factors ranging from faith and family to accessibility to mental health services are among the possible reasons for the low numbers cited by experts in the field.

Helen Walkerly, executive director of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) of Wayne and Holmes County, said several factors play into suicide, but sees faith as a big reason for the low numbers of suicides in Holmes County.

“Faith makes a big difference,” Walkerly said. “It’s about mental illness as well, and people without something to believe in, and when depression gets the best of somebody, they feel really hopeless. They don’t see a way out. They don’t really want to die, they just want that internal pain to end.

“The problem with that is, it leaves a lot of pain for the family that is left behind,” she continued. “It’s tragic. Really tragic.”

Holmes County Health District Commissioner Michael Derr agrees that Holmes County’s faith-based community is largely responsible for the low numbers of reported suicides.

“We are definitely proud of the healthy community we have here in Holmes County,” Derr said. “Holmes County annually finishes very high in the state in ranking healthy communities, usually in the top 10. I think we were fifth this year.

“We are thankful that it’s not a big problem,” Derr added. “That is probably due to Holmes County being more spiritual. Suicide just isn’t an appropriate thing to do.”

He also said mental health has been a primary focus of the community health plan the community has been developing over the past few years.

Wayne and Holmes County have an abundance of resources available to help those in need, as well as support services.

“I think that makes a difference, too,” Walkerly added.

There are several state-funded agencies that provide mental health resources, such as Local Outreach for Suicide Survivors (LOSS). When there is a suicide death in Holmes County, a LOSS team goes out to the scene and provides emotional support for the family during the investigation.

“This is really helpful and healing to family members for us to be there right at the point of the crisis for them,” Walkerly said. “Suicide is such a trauma for the families.”

Some Amish bishops have been trained for LOSS teams.

The high rate of Amish in Holmes County contributes to the low rate of suicide in the county, Walkerly said.

“They don’t complete suicide very often at all. But, it does happen,” she said. “Culture is important. People take care of their own. Even when you don’t have a lot of monetary resources, you have family; and that makes a difference. Relationships make a difference.”

Austin Lucas, program director of Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, agrees with Walkerly’s assessment that having access to mental health programs and support systems is a great deterrent to suicide.

“In small, tight-knit communities, there is a sense of belonging,” Lucas said. “That would be a direct correlation to low suicide numbers as well.”

He also cited the minimal drug abuse problem in the community as another potential reason for low numbers, pointing out that where there is a lot of drug abuse, there is also a high suicide rate.

Derr said Holmes County doesn’t see the overdoses some other communities have been hit hard with, another thing for which the community should be grateful, he added.

— Reporter Kevin Lynch can be reached at 330-674-5676 or klynch@the-daily-record.com.

CREDIT: KEVIN LYNCH