JOPLIN, Mo. – Every 25.5 seconds nationwide, someone attempts suicide. Every 10.6 minutes, someone dies by suicide.

Hoping to reverse these alarming statistics, Ozark Center Crisis Services held its first-ever Beacon of Hope community event on September 21 at the Joplin Public Library. During the four-hour event, the public came away with key information from area mental health professionals and organizations, while hearing from those directly impacted by suicide.

“Sometimes people don’t realize suicide is one of the leading causes of death in America and we want to change that in our area because our rates in the region are higher than the national average,” said Debbie Fitzgerald, Ozark Center Crisis Services Director. “We just want people to know there are persons in the community who are readily available and ready to help … before a crisis can possibly turn life-threatening.”

Joining Ozark Center with informational tables were officials from Forest Park Baptist Church, The Alliance of Southwest Missouri, American Foundation for Suicide and Prevention, The Joplin Police Department, Missouri Southern State University and The Green Bandana Project.

“It makes me proud that we have a community that’s so caring and to work with other agencies that have so many resources available – it felt really good to be able to do this,” Fitzgerald said.

People were encouraged to create their very own “Beacon of Hope” – where inspirational messages were written on paper and slipped inside glass containers complete with a light. At the end of the event, these beacons were lit during a ceremony where those who have been lost to suicide were remembered and honored.

There were also two canvas boards set up where the public was encouraged to write messages of hope for everyone to read. One message read: “No matter how dark it seems, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.” Another message simply stated: “You matter.”

“I hope that one person today learns about a resource and then is able to use it,” Fitzgerald said, “and that it brings them some much-needed comfort.”