During these cold and bleak months, when many are struggling with their mental health and looking forward to brighter, warmer days, it is encouraging to learn recent numbers from the Ohio Department of Health show there was a small decrease in the number of deaths by suicide in the Buckeye State in 2023. The more than 1,700 people who took their own lives were a 1% reduction from the previous year.

According to a report by the Ohio Capital Journal, the decrease was the first in three years.

“Every death by suicide is a tragedy that deeply affects so many,” ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff told the Capital Journal. “This is a sobering fact, and it is why, even though we take some encouragement from this slight decline, we are committed to continuing to work hard to drive those numbers down further.”

Improvements in suicide prevention and mental health access efforts include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 1% reduction came shortly after the lifeline launched.

Learn what you can, be vigilant, spread the word about the 988 Lifeline and other resources for those who need support. One percent may not seem like a big difference, but it is enormous. It is nearly 20 lives. Those 20 lives (and more) must be our motivation not to let up.