By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County has seen a disturbing number of suicides in 2015, including a recent increase in the total number.

“This year, we’ve unfortunately had 21 suicides,” said McLean County Coroner Kathleen Davis. “Up until June, there were only four suicides. Still tragic, but the numbers were down. After June, we obviously went up, and in the past week, we’ve had five more suicides.”

Davis said she is working to remind the public that suicide is preventable, and that there are services in place to help those struggling with depression.

“As a community, we all know to call 9-1-1 during emergencies, but what about 2-1-1?” Davis said. “It’s an easy number to remember if someone is in immediate distress or in a crisis. Calling that number can prevent a suicide. It’s out there, it’s real and it affects everyone.”

Workers trained in mental health care and crisis prevention will speak to those who call 2-1-1.

Davis said another key way to prevent suicide is to spot some of the early signs of depression, including hopelessness, voicing opinions of despair and fatigue.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].