The Franklin County Commissioners have proclaimed September to be Suicide Prevention Month in Franklin County.
On average, one person in Pennsylvania dies by suicide every five hours. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for Pennsylvanians ages 10-34 and the fourth-leading cause of death among those ages 35-44. Since 1995, Franklin County has lost 479 lives to suicide, including 11 county residents in the first eight months of 2025.
Nationally, the statistics are just as troubling. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was responsible for more than 49,000 U.S. deaths in 2023, or one person every 11 minutes. Data also indicates that 12.8 million adults have seriously considered suicide, 3.7 million have made a plan for suicide, and 1.5 million have attempted suicide.
“Just taking the time to ask one person how they’re really doing can make all the difference in someone’s life,” said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. “Conversations about mental health can be awkward, but we encourage everyone to take that step to have an honest, open dialogue about the stresses that contribute to harmful thoughts and to seek help to address their mental health needs.”
By issuing this proclamation, the Franklin County Commissioners reaffirm that suicide prevention is a county priority, in partnership with the Suicide Prevention Coalition through Healthy Franklin County. The commissioners urge residents and community leaders alike to commit to ensuring no one feels alone in their struggles with mental health.
Information on local resources and services is available by contacting the Franklin/Fulton Mental Health Program at 717-264-5387 or by visiting www.franklincountypa.gov/
departments/mental-health- . Resources are also available by dialing 211.intellectual-developmental- disabilities-early- intervention-mh-idd-ei/ If you or someone you know is in crisis or in need of immediate attention, help is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week through the Keystone Health Crisis Intervention Program by calling 717-264-2555 or through walk-in services at local emergency rooms. Help is also available by calling or texting the National Suicide Lifeline at 988.
