A set of new signs installed on the bridge carrying traffic over the Occoquan River aim to deliver a powerful message: you’re better off alive than dead.
Valentine’s Day was very special for some mental health advocates in Prince William this year. After months of hard work, suicide prevention signs were installed on the Occoquan Bridge on Route 123.
This has been a community effort. Andrea Hess, from Prince William Community Services (PWCS), expressed concern about so many people having made suicide attempts from that location. Immediately alarmed, Cynthia Dudley from Trillium Center reached out to former Prince William County Supervisor Ruth Anderson. Jacob Mosser from Anderson’s office took the lead with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Prince William Department of Transportation. Dudley brought Hess and other community leaders, Heather Martinsen (PWCS) and Vicki Graham from Action in Community Through Service of Prince William, Inc. (ACTS) to the table.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline “recognizes that ‘promoting access to lifesaving means’ — such as signage or other public education media near bridges that promotes awareness of hotlines (such as 273-TALK) or other suicide prevention services — is a supplement to bridge barriers.”
Kenny Allen Boddye, newly elected Occoquan Supervisor, stated in a press release, “I applaud the partnership between our county, advocates, neighboring Fairfax county, and other stakeholders who came together to ensure these signs were installed on the bridge. I look forward to working with our community to ensure we are doing everything we can to prevent suicide.”
Dudley says, “I am one grateful woman. Now to work with other BOCS to install more signs around the county where needed. Losing ONE person to suicide is not ok. Not ok one bit.”
According to the CDC, Suicide is a leading cause of death in the US. Suicide rates increased in nearly every state from 1999 through 2016. Mental health conditions are often seen as the cause of suicide, but suicide is rarely caused by any single factor.
In fact, many people who die by suicide are not known to have a diagnosed mental health condition at the time of death. Other problems often contribute to suicide, such as those related to relationships, substance use, physical health, and job, money, legal, or housing stress.
Making sure government, public health, healthcare, employers, education, the media and community organizations are working together is important for preventing suicide, states the CDC. Public health departments can bring together these partners to focus on comprehensive state and community efforts with the greatest likelihood of preventing suicide.
If you need help for yourself or someone else, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Talk: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Chat: suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Recent Stories
Step into the life of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll with Riverside Theater’s electrifying production of “Heartbreak Hotel.” Featuring Elliott Litherland as “Old Elvis” and Luke Purcell as “Teen Elvis,” this high-energy show will have you singing, dancing, and cheering all night long.
In this episode, we sit down with the show’s stars to hear about their roles, what drew them to this production, and how they’re bringing Elvis Presley to life on stage. They share everything from personal connections to Elvis’s thrill of performing in this iconic musical!
[Bee Calder via Unsplash] Monday was the late Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, and many local governments and organizations closed in honor of the civil rights leader’s service. Here’s how…
The Fredericksburg City Council took a significant step toward attracting data center development on Monday, January 14, by voting unanimously to initiate amendments to the city’s 2015 comprehensive plan, unified development ordinance (UDO), and zoning map. The proposed changes aim to establish a Technology Overlay District (TOD) that would designate roughly 250 acres in the city as a site for data centers and related uses near the Fredericksburg Nationals stadium.
Currently, the city does not have server farms like those sprouting up in surrounding jurisdictions, such as Stafford, Spotsylvania, Prince William, and King George counties. Unlike their neighbors, the city has far fewer acres of land to devote to the sprawling tech campuses.
“This is a critical opportunity for Fredericksburg to position itself as a competitive player in the tech industry,” said Mayor Kerry P. Devine. “By concentrating development in a single campus-like district, we can ensure infrastructure is used efficiently while minimizing environmental and community impacts.”
At the Jan. 13 meeting, the Manassas City Council unanimously voted to increase the city’s towing fees.
The “light duty” basic police accident tow and clean up — which includes the towing and removal of a car involved in a crash and cleaning the crash site of minor debris — fee would increase from $290 to $375. The non-accident fee — requiring a vehicle to be towed not in the case of an accident — would increase from $210 to $250.
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
Start 2024 on the right foot by prioritizing your mental health and well-being. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand how challenging life can be—whether it’s managing stress from work, family dynamics, or navigating the complexities of the world around us. Our team is here to help you create balance and find the peace you deserve.
We’re offering a free 15-minute consultation to help you explore how therapy can work for you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, looking for support, or just want to talk things through, this is the perfect opportunity to take that first step toward a healthier, happier you.
Scheduling is simple and convenient. Choose the option that works best for you:
