Mahoning County Commissioners officially recognized March first as Suicide Prevention Day. The announcement comes in partnership with the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board, Mahoning County Public Health and Direction Home of Eastern Ohio at Thursday morning's County Commissioner meeting.

The groups addressed a record high number of suicide deaths in the county in 2023, with 30% of deaths that year being among those 60 years and older, according to the annual figures from the Mental Health and Recovery Board.

The Coalition for a Drug Free Mahoning County also introduced a suicide prevention program called "Question, Persuade, Refer," or QPR, which was funded by the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board. The QPR program includes a 60 minute training for members of the general public, enabling them to reach out to those who are suffering from suicidal ideation and refer them to seek help from a list of local organizations.

Duane Piccirilli, Executive Director of the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board says the declaration and coordinated efforts among local organizations will help get the word out about the ongoing mental health crisis, and encourage members of the community to reach out for help if they are struggling.

"It's too big of a problem to handle ourselves," Piccirilli told 21News. "So we're going to do this gatekeeper training and we're going to try to make the entire community aware of the warning signs and what to look for, and either call 988, call the local hotline, or talk to a professional."

Representative Lauren McNally also spoke at the meeting, stressing the importance of continued funding at the state level for local organizations providing mental health and support resources.

"The Governor has made it very clear that mental health is something he feels passionate about and he put his money where his mouth is in this last budget cycle. So that was really good to see, but there's still work to be done" McNally noted.

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.