You have feelings of doubt and think you are not the best person you can be.

You feel like you are a bother to your friends and family and your life isn’t worth living.

You’re in pain and you just want it to end.

You pick up the phone, but then put it down and reach for the pills.

Finally, the pain has stopped.

But has it?

Not for your family who now is left wondering what they could have done differently to help you. Why they didn’t notice the signs behind your forced smiles.

Suicide is real and suicide is something that needs to be talked about even if it is uncomfortable.

It’s the 11th leading cause of death in Pennsylvania and the second leading cause of death in people ages 15 to 34.

That’s why Carbon County wants to help shine a light on a very serious problem.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners signed a proclamation naming September as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month and Sept. 10 as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich read the proclamation, stating “nearly 5 million people in the United States have lost a loved one to suicide.

“Each member of our community is valued and irreplaceable … Talking openly about stress and psychological health builds trust, reduced barriers to care and enables early intervention.”

They welcomed Tina Clymer, administrator for the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health/Developmental Services, who said that joining in the effort to show people who are suffering from mental health issues that help is available.

In Carbon County, between January and May of last year, there were four suicides. Clymer said that number this year over the same time period has nearly tripled to 11.

“We believe it is connected to COVID,” she said, noting that her office is working hard to reduce the numbers through the rest of the year.

They hold trainings for people who want to learn how to help someone who is suicidal and are collaborating with local school clubs to hold a lawn sign campaign throughout the month. Signs to raise awareness will be posted at various locations throughout the county.

“We hope the community can get involved and help us move forward with these efforts to help people,” Clymer said.

The organization’s 24/7 mental health crisis hotline is 570-992-0879.

The National Suicide Prevention hotline is 1-800-273-8255. The National Crisis text line is 741741.