“It’s OK to say I’m not OK,” says Gordon Clay, suicide prevention advocate.The dedicated champion to save lives continues to work tirelessly to make Curry and Del Norte counties aware of the spike in suicide attempts, this past summer.Octogenarian Clay was raised in rural Kansas and experienced the suicide loss of his dearest friend who was helping the young Clay through a serious domestic family issue back in the 80’s. When The Triplicate asked him what might be the reasons suicides have dramatically spiked, Clay responded, “ Social Media has most definitely contributed to the problem. Social Media has accelerated depression and anxiety issues. People of all ages don’t just commit suicide: people take their own lives to escape the unbearable pain in which they exist and in doing so impact family / friend survivors.”#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Clay received his third Proclamation in 10 days, recognizing September as Suicide Awareness and Prevention month. The City, County and School District each presented their Proclamations, respectively. This year, elected were made painfully aware of the spike in suicides in both Curry and Del Norte countiesClay underscored suicide affects all age and demographic groups and praised tele- therapy as a viable tool in helping those dealing with cobtenplating suicide and who wish to exit the living world.“Every life Matters,” Clay exclaims. Each of us needs to outreach with individuals who you suspect seem confused, moody, angry, anxious or agitated, lonely, bereft of self-esteem, expressing hopelessness and expressing no reason to live and ask R U O K?” says Clay. And be a good listener.Curry County whose largest demographic group is Seniors, ranks 4th in suicides/ attempts among 36 Oregon counties, per 100,000 population. Astounding!Tragically, youth as young as 10 are finding ways to take their lives. He urged young folks to text 741 741 for help. Churches, synagogues and temples must also do outreach with their adherence to helping mitigate the serious spike in suicide attempts. The Jehova Witness group is also conducting outreach in it door knocking effort and ask dwellers R U O K?Sadly, Sheriff/ Coroner Garrett Scott reported a record four suicides during the month of August. The ratio of suicides per 100,000 population is worsening and is on trend to set an annual record. Scott laments economic conditions may likely worsen in the immediate future. “The reservoir of hope is near empty,” says Scott. “This dynamic is omnipresent.”We must all reach out…R U O K? googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });