Ottawa County proclaims September 2025 Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Alyssa Jewell, Education and Outreach Specialist with Central Kansas Mental Health Center, presented a Suicide Prevention Awareness Month proclamation to the Board and reviewed state data showing suicide remains a leading cause of death in Kansas. Jewell noted that "the suicide rate in Kansas continues to rise, with over 500 Kansas residents dying from suicide annually" and that according to Kansas Department of Health and Environment Zero Suicide data suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people ages 25–44 in Kansas. She emphasized that access to care is a protective factor and reminded residents that 988 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.