Mendocino County reports suicides increased in 2020

Mendocino County officials reported this week that there has been a “nearly 40-percent increase in suicides each month since May of 2020.”

According to numbers released by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office “deaths caused by suicide have increased greatly with 30 reported between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, 2020, an increase from 19 in 2019 and 17 in 2018.” And, MCSO Sheriff Matthew Kendall pointed out that such statistics “are typically several weeks delayed due to processing, which may increase the 2020 totals reported.”

Given the isolation many people are feeling during the Covid-19 pandemic, Kendall shared his concern over the increase in suicides by urging residents to “continue our safety practices with social distancing and masking while balancing social safety and our community’s mental health. Think about how many people you run into each day and those little connections such as a smile or quick, ‘how are you doing?’ When you don’t have that for an entire year what happens to your mental health?”

Local officials noted that support in Mendocino County is provided through the Redwood Community Services Crisis Response Services, a 24/7 Crisis Hotline that anyone in Mendocino County experiencing a mental health emergency can access by calling 1-855-838-0404.

For anyone needing less emergent help, Mendocino County offers a “Warm Line” for non-crisis support. The Warm Line is available Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. by calling 1-707-472-2311 or Toll Free at 1-833-9952510.

“The truth is that with the onset of Covid-19, social distancing, economic stress, and significant changes in our daily lives, the stress can be insurmountable,” Sarah Livingston, Redwood Community Services director of Crisis Services, is quoted as saying. “If you or a loved one had a broken leg you would get them to medical care? We would not say please suffer and let’s see how crooked it turns out. We would say let’s get it fixed, let’s get you comfortable, let’s put in the time so it heals correctly. A mental health emergency is no different. Timely, professional care with an open dialogue about wellness can make the difference between further crisis and stabilization.”

In addition to crisis response services, Redwood Community Services is offering QPR — Question, Persuade, Refer — Suicide Prevention virtual training with a one-hour presentation teaching attendees how to appropriately intervene when someone is having suicidal ideation or attempts, using QPR skills. Classes are being held on Thursday, Jan. 21, and Wednesday, Jan. 27. Registration can be found at www.redwoodcommunityservices.org/training and on the Redwood Community Services Facebook page.