After two year decline, Ohio sees suicide deaths increase

COLUMBUS— The Ohio Department of Health released the Suicide Demographics and Trends 2021 report indicating that after a two-year decline, the number of Ohio suicide deaths increased.

Deaths increased in 2021 by 8% over the previous year to 1,766; however, the number of deaths remained below the 10-year high of 1,836 deaths in 2018.

The data means that five Ohioans die by suicide every day, and one youth dies every 34 hours.

“Suicide is a human tragedy, and any increase is of course deeply concerning,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. “This puts more emphasis on the importance of Governor DeWine’s efforts to prioritize the expansion of Ohio’s mental-health services. All of us, though, need to pay attention and recognize when someone is struggling and know where they can turn to for help.”

Other key findings of the 2021 report include:

In 2021, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among Ohioans 10-34 years of age and the 12th-leading cause of death in Ohio, overall.

From 2020 to 2021, white non-Hispanic males and females had the largest increases in the rate of suicide (7%).

In 2021, adults 25-44 years of age had the highest rate of suicide, which increased 13% from 2020, compared with 5% increases among other reported age groups.

Among males in 2021, those 75-years and older had the highest rate of suicide.

Among females in 2021, those 45-54-years-old had the highest number and rate of suicide.

In 2020, RecoveryOhio and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) partnered with The Ohio Suicide

Prevention Foundation to create The Suicide Prevention Plan for Ohio, a blueprint to mobilize and align efforts to prevent suicide.

Since then, state officials have taken aggressive action to address mental illness and to reduce suicide deaths. One strategy included rolling out the 3-digit National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988, which has responded to more than 10,000 calls/chats/texts each month from citizens in all 88 counties.

The Governor’s 2024-2025 budget proposal prioritizes mental health and significantly invests funds to prevent and treat mental illness.

“Most of this funding is sent directly to local communities and will be used to increase the number of Ohioans trained to help people build skills to bounce back from difficult life events and to reduce stigma so people can ask for help without shame,” said OhioMHAS Director Lori Criss. “It will also support pediatric primary-care screenings, grief support groups for loss survivors, and local coalitions who convene partners around unique community needs.”

If you, or someone you know is in crisis, please call 988.

BF-98243

Martha “Milly” Mildred Hanchin, 87, of Warren, OH passed away Thursday, May 11, 2023, at her home.

She was born October 5, 1935, in Jewett, OH, the daughter of the late Mathew A. Uglovich and the late Gladys D. (Gamble) Uglovich. Milly was a 1953 graduate of Jewett High School. She was employed as an inspector at Packard Electric, retiring after 32 years of service. Milly was a member of the Birthday Club and Packard Electric retirees’ group. She volunteered at Packard

Metta Marie Eddy, age 101, of Scio passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2023. She was the daughter of the late Early Franklin and Bessie Antill Moore, born March 4, 1922, in Warnock, Ohio. Meta Marie was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Rev. Hobert Eddy. She spent her life as a dedicated pastor’s wife in the Nazarene Church. She was involved in mission and many other ministries, sharing the love of Jesus Christ. Meta Marie had a very special love in her heart for children. There was always room on her

Museum Car Show and with the Salvation Army, wrapping presents. Milly enjoyed traveling to Florida, attending country and theater shows at Packard Music Hall, Jamboree in the Hills and Ponderosa. She worked hard on her garden, home, and was a fabulous baker. Milly supported all her friends and family.

She is survived by her children, Leonard (Susan) Hanchin of Irvine, CA, Michele (Thomas) Jeffers of Warren, OH and Julie (Robert) Moon of Kent, OH; sister, Mary N. Klass; grandchildren, Gregory J. Ingram, Mathew (Sarah) Jeffers, Justin (Esther) Jeffers, Amie (Val) Hernandez, Leslie (Joshua) Marks and Ryan (Chelsea) Dunk; great-grand - to family members beginning with her grandparents. Family and friends will always remember her as a very caring, compassionate, loving person who loved Jesus Christ and loved others. children, Alton, Owen, Issac, Lily, Sophia, Grace, Audrey, Aidan (Destiny), Nadia, Eli, Aria, Emme, Sabrina and Weston; and great-great-grandchildren, Hallie and Elia. death by two sons Alfred (Connie) Eddy and Elmer Eddy, 3 brothers, a sister, a grandchild and a great grandchild.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Leonard J. Hanchin; and second husband, Daryl “Duke” Kistler.

Services were held at St. William Catholic Church. She was laid to rest at Champion Township Cemetery, Champion, OH. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Carl W. Hall Funeral Home.

HARRISON HILLS CHURCH

87800 Cadiz-Jewett Rd., Jewett Church: 946-2851

Pastor Philip Spellman

Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship Service

Tuesdays, Worship Service & Bible Study 7:30 p.m.

MT. SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH

83522 Baker’s Ridge Road, Cadiz mtshiloh.net Rev. Clint Marshall - Pastor

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST “A Place to Belong”

139 North Main St., Cadiz | 740-942-2235 firstchurchofchrist@frontier.com • fccadiz.com lap for another child; her grandchildren, their children, anyone’s child. All of her life she was a caregiver

Surviving is six children: Raymond (Brenda) Eddy, Harold Keith Eddy, Roy (Karen) Eddy, Carol (Johnny) Poulson, Ronald (Dianna) Eddy and Judy Visnic. She has 26 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, 15 great-great grandchildren and numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. She was preceded in

Friends may call Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 12 - 3 pm at Scio United Methodist Church where services will be held immediately following at 3 pm with Pastor Donna Bishop officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, Jewett. Koch Funeral Home, Scio has been entrusted with her arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Church of the Nazarene - Africa at www.africanazarene.org