MARION — A candlelight vigil will be held on Nov. 17, International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, from 5:30 to 7 pm at the First Congregational Church of Marion. 

The vigil comes as a continuation of a conversation on suicide at an Oct. 15 discussion hosted by the tri-town area Public Health Nurses and Plymouth County Suicide Prevention Coalition. Reverend David Lima, a New Bedford resident who has won awards for his work on mental health an suicide prevention, explained at the discussion that the tri-town area has a higher than average rate of suicide.

John Conway of Wareham discussed suicide as being an issue within his pediatric practice, with victims as young as 8 years old.  

The local issue is part of a larger trend national trend, and the CDC states on their website that, “suicide rates in the United States have risen nearly 30% since 1999, and mental health conditions are one of several factors contributing to suicide.”

Although a 2017 Data Brief on Suicide by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health specifies that the suicide rate in Massachusetts is lower, it still remains a more prevalent cause of death than homicides or motor vehicle accidents. 

With this in mind, tri-town Public Health Nurses decided to raise awareness within the community and provide resources and education locally. Connie Dolan, RN, Amanda Stone, RN and Kathy Downey, RN are collaborating to make relevant resources more widely known. 

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text the Samaritans Statewide Hotline at 1-877-870-HOPE (4673), call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or the Trevor Helpline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth at 866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386).