Local sounds alarm on suicide crisis

Madison County advocate Gordon Plumlee said he knows the weight of suicide — he carries it every day and wants to keep people alive.

Plumlee, who experienced the trauma of losing a parent to suicide as a child, now serves Madison County as its veterans service officer, a Madisonville Fire Department member and a crisis chaplain. His commitment to suicide prevention and mental health awareness is driven by personal loss, and his help is needed now more than ever.

'Suicides are at an alltime high rate,' Plumlee said.

'Veterans seem to stand out because of the attention that is brought to light. However, suicide in youth is really high. Suicide in the post-Covid era is unbelievable. Seniors, 60 and older, is at a shocking rate.'

National data backs him up.

TOO MANY

More than 49,300 Americans died by suicide in 2023, the equivalent of one death every 11 minutes.

That rate of 14.2 per 100,000 marks the highest level since 1941.

Suicide ranks as the second- leading cause of death for Americans ages 10 to 34 and claimed twice as many lives as homicide in 2023.

Veterans face particular danger. In 2022, 6,407 veterans died by suicide nationwide, an average of 17.6 deaths per day. The veteran suicide rate of 34.7 per 100,000 is roughly double that of nonveteran adults.

Veterans 55 and older account for about 60% of all veteran suicides, and six in 10 had no contact with Veterans Health Administration care the year before their deaths in 2022.

For young people, one in five high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023 and 9% of high school students attempted suicide at least once in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Suicide deaths among youth ages 10 to 24 increased 62% between 2007 and 2021, and preteen suicide has risen steadily since 2008.

Rates among Black children and teens increased 144% between 2007 and 2020, the fastest growth of any racial group.

Adults 85 and older recorded the highest suicide rate in 2023 at 22.66 per 100,000. Men in that age group die by suicide at a rate nearly 17 times higher than women Americans 65 and older make up about 12% of the population but account for roughly 20% of all suicides, jumping 8% between 2021 and 2022 alone.

First responders face their own crisis. Law enforcement officers and firefighters die by suicide more often than in the line of duty, and emergency medical services workers are 1.39 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

Nearly half of firefighters report experiencing suicidal thoughts during their careers, and about 20% of firefighters and paramedics meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.

LOCAL RISKS

Rural communities like Madison County face additional risk factors, national data shows.

Suicide rates in rural areas are about 1.5 times higher than in urban areas and nearly doubled between 2000 and 2020. Rural youth ages 15 to 19 die by suicide at rates 74% higher than their urban peers, and about 65% of rural counties have no psychiatrist.

Texas nonmetro areas have seen suicide mortality increase 55% over the past two decades, with East Texas counties reporting rates between 15 and 30 per 100,000, well above the state average.

Plumlee said access to care remains one of the biggest challenges and the system often fails those who need help most.

'Mental health help is not easy to find,' Plumlee said. 'We currently find ourselves going through a period in our political environment that subscribes to the fact that it is cheaper to incarcerate those with substance abuse or mental health issues than it is to treat them.”

Firearms account for more than half of all suicides nationwide, with most occurring in rural areas. Substance abuse further compounds the risk, with more than 200,000 Americans dying from alcohol, drugs and suicide combined in 2023.

'We can cuss and discuss all this over and over, but until we really get involved and push for more mental health help, we will be cussing and discussing this again next year,' Plumlee said.

SPEAKING UP

Plumlee has taken multiple courses on suicide prevention and works with Celebrate Recovery and Meaningful Life Recovery for substance abuse help. He serves veterans through his office in the Madison County Courthouse at 101 W. Main St.

'It is a responsibility of all to be observant of the signs and to take it serious,' Plumlee said. 'See something, say something.'

Warning signs may include talking about wanting to die, expressing hopelessness, withdrawing from family or friends, changes in sleep or mood and giving away personal belongings.

Four out of five suicide deaths show warning signs beforehand, according to officials.

'Other than prayer, what can we do?' Plumlee said. 'Get informed, seek answers, seek resources, get prepared. Be vigilant. Talk about suicide.'

Research shows asking someone directly about suicide may reduce suicidal thoughts by opening the door to help.

'Get involved,' Plumlee said. 'Talk to your elected officials, pastors, teachers, doctors and anyone else you can think of. Don't wait to learn until after the suicide.'

Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Veterans can press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line or text 838255.

Plumlee can be reached at 936-348-2244, and the Bryan VA Clinic offers mental health services at 1651 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.

The MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley also operates a 24 hour crisis line at 888-522-8262.

'988 is the official number to call when it gets bad,' Plumlee said.

An online chat runs at 988lifeline.org.