The Breaking Through Task Force has partnered with the Saving Lives Task Force, Be Resilient OBX, and the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services to promote suicide awareness and education. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and throughout the month stories will be shared about people who have been impacted by suicide.

“We know that suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in Dare County,” commented Kelly Nettnin, co-chair of the Breaking Through Task Force. “Dare County’s suicide death rate is 44% higher than North Carolina’s. Although the mortality rate has decreased by 3.14% since our last community health needs assessment, we still have room for improvement. ”

This project will include social media outreach and a documentary-style video focusing on the impacts of suicide in Dare County. The documentary will be shown at a special event at City Hall in September.

“Our team reviewed the guest speaker opportunities for this town hall event and ultimately decided that the most important goal was to recognize what is happening in our community,” commented Roxana Ballinger, Co-Chair of the Rescue Working Group. Lives. “A documentary seemed like the best way to help people understand how lives are affected by suicide in Dare County.”

The documentary will also be available on YouTube, social media, local TV and websites. If you choose to participate, you are not required to be filmed; we may share your story anonymously and/or via social media posts.

“We are looking for brave people who are willing to share their stories and experiences,” Nettnin continued. “It could be a loved one who has committed suicide or someone who has had suicidal thoughts or attempts.”

Those interested in participating and sharing their story can fill out this Google form: https://forms.gle/K5KxKAis3UoKh7Vr5. If you would like to participate in the documentary, be sure to include your contact details. You can participate anonymously by sharing your story without providing your name or contact information on the form.

If you have any questions about this project, please contact Kelly Nettnin at 252.475.5036 or [email protected]