CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Bright purple and teal lights will decorate the Ben Franklin Bridge, Camden City Hall and other Camden buildings Saturday night to mark World Suicide Prevention Day and bring attention to the cause.
Suicide affects people of all races and income levels. Getting the word out that life doesn't have to end that way is important to Camden County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge. She lost a family member to suicide, and said there is an increase in younger people taking their own lives.
"Those numbers 10-34, and not to say that it doesn’t occur in ages older than 34, but to see those ages, it's just really heart-wrenching to me and to many that have gone through the loss of a family member," she said.
This year, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline changed to a simpler 988 number for people to call if they’re in crisis. Betteridge said people who are concerned about a loved one can also call that number.
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"If there's anything that we can do to highlight to people that they're not alone, that's the most important message that I can bring to the constituency," she said. "There are resources right in their neighborhood."
Statistics show men make up nearly 80% of suicide victims, and men are also less likely to seek out help for mental health problems.
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