LUSBY, Md. – Families came out to remember Jaden Simpson, a 15 year old, who took his life on July 7, 2024. On Thursday, July 18 at 6:00 p.m. at the Basketball Court & Garden inside the Chesapeake Ranch Club, a suicide prevention and vigil was held. While it was a somber event, the theme was “let your light shine.”
Prayer, grieving and comfort took place. Resources such as the Calvert County Sheriff’s Department, Crisis Response Team and VFD showed up to offer resources and guidance should they need the help and contacts to avoid a similar scenario.
Tissues were passed around as Pastor John W. Smith III of the Mechanicsville Worship & Community Center gave an impassioned speech with a prayer. Community members sat raptured by his wise words and holy vision. A dry eye there was not.
According to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide rate in the United States recently reached its highest peak since 1941. The provisional number of suicides in 2022 was 3% higher than the final total number of suicides in 2021—and the 2022 final total number of suicides is likely higher than current counts.
“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have observed increasing rates of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and suicide. As a trauma practitioner, I attribute a lot of it to the accumulation of chronic stress and trauma in our population due to the pandemic as well as other traumatic events (shootings, wars, racial trauma, etc) that have been happening in the US and the world,” said Viktoriya Karakcheyeva, MD, director of behavioral health services at GW Resiliency & Well-being Center and adjunct assistant professor of clinical research and leadership at The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, DC.
So what do we as a community do about this issue that has been on a steady rise since 1942? For one, education on signs of depression in a loved one is key. Getting help by seeking medical attention such as therapy or medication is another.
Finally, we need to show support when someone is seeking help. Having a support system can exponentially decrease the odds of suicidal follow through. Let’s get together with our families, friends and co-workers and talk.
If you or a loved one is having suicidal or self-harm thoughts, there are many resources available.
Call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (or 988 Lifeline) available 24/7. 988 provides you judgment-free and confidential care.
Visit The National Institute of Mental Health for more information and warning signs at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention.
Reach out and talk to someone you love and trust. It gets better.
Feel free to leave your comments and well wishes to Jaden’s family in the comments below. Watch the video to see the event. Take care of yourself and each other.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
