September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and mental health experts are urging Ohioans to take action when a friend, family or neighbor hints they may want to take their own life. More than 14-hundred Ohioans took their own lives in 2011. Carolyn Givens of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation says the rate among middle-aged Ohioans has risen more than 40 percent in the past decade, which she blames on depression and other issues.
Givens says it's important to watch for possible warning signs among friends, family, and one's own behavior.
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Givens says too many people try to fight depression by themselves. She suggests those with suicidal thoughts contact their local prevention hotline or a mental health professional.