September is National Suicide Prevention Month, which the Select Board commemorated in a proclamation at its meeting Tuesday.
“This observation provides an opportunity to encourage conservation about mental health and the impact of suicide, reduce stigma and the help to connect individuals and their families with appropriate resources,” Select Board Chair Katie Phelan read. “Suicide remains a significant public health concern that affects individuals of all ages and backgrounds as well as their friends families and coworkers, neighbors and communities.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent full-year statistics suggest that suicide was responsible for 48,824 deaths in 2024. Suicide deaths consistently outnumber homicide deaths in the U.S., occurring at nearly twice the rate of homicides.
The suicide rate among males in 2024 was nearly four times the rate among females. People ages 80 and older had the highest suicide rates in 2024, while American Indian or Alaska Native people had substantially higher suicide rates than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S.
Suicide was the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 14, 15 to 24, and 25 to 34 in 2023.
“The town of Swampscott recognizes that every life lost to suicide is a profound and lasting impact on family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors and the greater community,” Phelan said. “Check in with folks. That’s really what this is about.”
There will be a resource fair with several local agencies at the North Shore Community College on September 23. Residents are encouraged to meet representatives from local peer recovery support centers and learn more about available resources. The event will run at the Lynn Campus Cafeteria from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will also be a North Shore Out of the Darkness Walk on October 4 in Newburyport as part of the national campaign to raise funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. A larger event will be held on October 26 at the Boston Common.
“Suicide prevention actually starts before a mental health crisis,” according to Gregg Mulford, LMHC Clinical Director at the Marblehead Counseling Center. “This is a great time to learn about warning signs, and connect people to vital mental health resources.”
Understanding risk factors and helping develop protective connections in the community are both critical in the fight against suicide, Mulford said.
According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), major risk factors for suicide include:
- Prior suicide attempt(s)
- Misuse and abuse of alcohol or other drugs
- Mental disorders, particularly depression and other mood disorders
- Access to lethal means
- Knowing someone who died by suicide, particularly a family member
- Social isolation
- Chronic disease and disability
- Lack of access to behavioral health care
Equally important are the steps we take as a community and as individuals to support those who might be at risk, Mulford said. Access to mental health professionals is crucial, he added.
“We are so lucky to have access to quality mental health programs in our community,” Mulford said.
In the 2025 State of Mental Health in America by Mental Health America (MHA), Massachusetts was ranked sixth in the nation overall in rates of access to care and fourth for youth.
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health concerns, help is available. You can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.
