DAYTON -- Across the country, researchers have found that suicide is now the lead cause of injury-related deaths surpassing motor vehicle crashes. The number of suicides coming into the coroner's office in Montgomery County is more than double the amount of deaths on roads.
In Montgomery County alone there have been at least 80 suicides so far this year. Ohio State Highway Patrol officials say they've responded to 35 fatalities on roads in Montgomery County.
Kevin Reed of Camden has been all too close to this subject.
At the age of 13, Reed became depressed because he thought he was the reason for his parents' fighting.
He says he felt alone like he had no one to turn to. Reed says he thought he'd take what he called "the easy way out."
"Just took a bottle of Tylenol, then I was finding more Tylenol. I took them thinking they'll do something," Reed said.
Montgomery County Coroner Kent Harshbarger says the number of suicides are similar to 2011. He says the amount of car crashes could be going down because of vehicle safety and an increase in trauma centers to treat victims.
Suicide has become an epidemic across the country and, here in Montgomery County, most of them men in their 50s.
Harshbarger says it's not just certain times of the year like many think.
"It's kind of a myth they happen around the holidays. They tend to run relatively constant month to month," said Harshbarger.
The Suicide Prevention Center here is receiving around 4,000 calls a month with people thinking or threatening to kill themselves.
"When it reaches epidemic proportions it is no longer a mental health issue, it is a public health issue that we should all be looking at and everyone should be doing something about," said Tricia Marks, Director of Suicide Prevention Center.
Marks says they are a non-profit organization with volunteers. She says it's hard for her staff to keep up with the calls.
She recommends that if anyone has thought about suicide to call her office.
There are many warning signs for suicide with depression being the number one. Also, if someone is dealing with loss, grief or guilt.
Another risk factor is isolation from life's problems.
In Montgomery County alone there have been at least 80 suicides so far this year. Ohio State Highway Patrol officials say they've responded to 35 fatalities on roads in Montgomery County.
Kevin Reed of Camden has been all too close to this subject.
At the age of 13, Reed became depressed because he thought he was the reason for his parents' fighting.
He says he felt alone like he had no one to turn to. Reed says he thought he'd take what he called "the easy way out."
"Just took a bottle of Tylenol, then I was finding more Tylenol. I took them thinking they'll do something," Reed said.
Montgomery County Coroner Kent Harshbarger says the number of suicides are similar to 2011. He says the amount of car crashes could be going down because of vehicle safety and an increase in trauma centers to treat victims.
Suicide has become an epidemic across the country and, here in Montgomery County, most of them men in their 50s.
Harshbarger says it's not just certain times of the year like many think.
"It's kind of a myth they happen around the holidays. They tend to run relatively constant month to month," said Harshbarger.
The Suicide Prevention Center here is receiving around 4,000 calls a month with people thinking or threatening to kill themselves.
"When it reaches epidemic proportions it is no longer a mental health issue, it is a public health issue that we should all be looking at and everyone should be doing something about," said Tricia Marks, Director of Suicide Prevention Center.
Marks says they are a non-profit organization with volunteers. She says it's hard for her staff to keep up with the calls.
She recommends that if anyone has thought about suicide to call her office.
There are many warning signs for suicide with depression being the number one. Also, if someone is dealing with loss, grief or guilt.
Another risk factor is isolation from life's problems.
