Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
September 23, 2021
MRT Team Leader Kayla Woodle of Starting Point Behavior Healthcare attended the September 21, 2021 Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) Regular Meeting and accepted a Proclamation from Mayor Mike Lednovich declaring September 2021 “National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.”
According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, 47,500 deaths occurred in 2019 as a result of suicide which can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race, orientation, income level, religion, or background. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults in the US, the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals aged 10‐34, the fourth leading cause of death among individuals aged 34-54, and the fifth leading cause of death for individuals aged 45-54.
In accepting the Proclamation Woodle thanked the City for recognizing the impact of suicide on families and communities. She said that the Nassau County Community has lost three members to suicide in the last 3 months. She said that the number of potential and actual suicides locally has risen following the onset of the Covid pandemic.
“Almost on a daily basis, we are interacting with young people, some as young as 10, who are thinking about ending their life,” she said. She urged people to interact with family and community members to make sure they are okay. “Sometimes it’s just checking in to say ‘How’s it going?’ If we don’t reach out, we don’t know. One family member that dies by suicide is one too many.”
She explained how Starting Point is working to save people from suicide. She said, “Sometimes just a smile can make the difference in someone’s life.”
To learn more about Starting Point and the many services they provide, click here.