Schuylkill County has the fourth-highest suicide rate in the state.

The Suicide Prevention Task Force in the county is trying to change those numbers for the better.

Tuesday members of the Suicide Prevention Task Force, elected representatives, Schuylkill Transportation employees and those from the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce met at Union Station in Pottsville for the unveiling of the two vans wrapped in a suicide prevention message.

“Suicide is the most preventable death,” Schuylkill chamber President and CEO Robert S. Carl said.

He introduced the speakers, who each spoke about the important message.

Grace Coffin, chair of the task force that has 66 members, said there have been seven suicides in the county since Sept. 22. All were male. Five of them were youth, she said.

“We’re trying to reach as many people as we can,” she said of the task force’s efforts to combat the problem.

The wrapping of the vans was done by IDWraps, Slatington.

The two 16 passenger vans have the number of the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255.

The number is free, confidential and working 24 hours a day.

“If you know of somebody who is struggling, reach out to them,” Coffin said.

Money for the wraps, which will be on the buses for a year, was paid for by mental health block grant funding through the state.

Commissioners’ Chairman Barron “Boots” Hetherington stressed “it’s OK not to be OK.”

Calling the suicide prevention number can be the difference between life and death.

Coffin said someone called the national number when they were at a business and read it on a coaster the organization provided.

Commissioner Gary Hess said asking for help is nothing to be ashamed of.

“Each and every one of us had troubled times.”