Suicide increases alarmingly in Monroe County

April 06--The suicide rate is climbing in Monroe County, despite a wide range of available help.

There have been 15 suicides during the first three months of 2015, compared to five suicides during the same period last year and 10 during the first three months of 2013.

"I think people are dealing differently with depression," Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen said.

More men than women and more young than older people are taking their own lives, he said. Allen estimates that about 70 percent victims take their lives in a moment of passion, while 30 percent methodically plan their own deaths.

This year's suicides include six who shot themselves, one who died from taking a mixture of drugs, and eight who hanged themselves. This includes five hangings in February.

All five people who took their own lives during the first three months of 2014 used a gun, according to coroner's office statistics. There were 30 suicides in the county all of last year.

Only two of the 10 suicides during the first three months of 2013 resulted from gunshots. There were five suicides by hanging, two by "mixed drug toxicity," and one from carbon monoxide poisoning.

There were 35 suicides recorded during all of 2013.

Help is available. This includes ongoing support group meetings at Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg. A bipolar/depression support group meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.

A suicide survivors' support group meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month, also at 7 p.m.

The local chapter of NAMI -- the National Alliance on Mental Illness -- meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.

Most of the support group meetings take place at PMC's Stroud Room.

Carbon, Monroe, Pike Mental Health-Developmental Services provides crisis services by calling 570-992-0879. Other support services and referrals are available by calling the agency at 570-421-2901.

A national suicide hotline -- 800-273-TALK -- provides crisis counseling.

Pocono Medical Center provides outpatient counseling by appointment at its West End and Bartonsville health centers.

Among suicide warning signs are low activity levels, loss of appetite and radical changes in sleeping patterns, said Tammy Heskeyahu, a psychologist at the PMC's West End center. Sudden changes should particularly be noted if the person involved has a prior history of attempted suicide. Loved ones shouldn't hesitate to take a person who appears suicidal to the hospital emergency room.

"Don't ever take anything lightly," Heskeyahu said. "And don't leave them alone, even to go to the bathroom."

Other signs of depression include feeling rage or uncontrolled anger, feeling hopeless or trapped, acting recklessly, withdrawing from friends or family, or giving away possessions and taking other steps that indicate possibly planning a suicide.

"Any change in behavior is a key indicator something is going on," she said.

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