CINCINNATI, Ohio—The pandemic may be aggravating an already concerning issue among mental health professionals- suicide. A new study shows a major increase in suicides since 2009. 

​Living with suicidal thoughts is an everyday battle. 

“I had a lot of really terrible things to say about myself to myself," Michelle Price said in a testimonial video about her depression. "And I thought I just didn’t belong. I thought I wasn’t good enough for everyone.”

But thanks to a new a study in Ohio, experts can better understand who may be more at risk of attempting suicide.

The study, a first of it’s kind, was a collaboration effort by the Mental Health and Addiction Coalition, Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health in partnership with Ohio University and the Ohio Suicide Prevention foundation. The groups hope it starts the conversation about the prevalence of suicide in our communities.

“We really need to start talking about this and working with communities across the state to help combat this issue," Tony Coder the Executive Director of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation said.

The study focuses on the Cincinnati and Cleveland areas along with surrounding counties and works to break down each demographic to see which might be more at risk to attempt suicide.

“The way that we have presented the data gives people an opportunity to see what’s going on in their neighborhoods and among their reference groups," Orman Hall withe the Ohio University Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health said.

One of those groups that’s worrisome to these experts are high-school aged Black children.

“Nearly 60% of African American youth in that survey had a suicide attempt within the last month compared to only 4% of white kids," Coder said. "We need to do a better job of reaching out to our urban communities, to our African American communities to help with those discussions around suicide.”

But now in the midst of a pandemic and social distancing, many worry that added isolation will lead to an even larger spike.

“Now we’re staring in the face a pandemic that has implications for people’s mental health," Joan Englund the Executive Director of the Mental Health and Addiction Advocacy Coalition said. "We know people are afraid, isolated, some are going through grief. So now is the time we really need to make sure people have access to services they need. And it is not the time to cut back on services. We need to put the pedal to the metal now.”

Experts say the best way to cope is to reach out to family and friends. One even suggested calling five people a day. For one survivor of suicidal thoughts, being open with his family and friends has been instrumental in his mental health journey.

“Reach out to somebody that you trust," Eric McKee said in a testimonial video about his suicidal thoughts. "Give them permission to ask you at any time, are you having suicidal thoughts?”

“When someone is depressed or suicidal they don't want to die," Price said. "What they want is a reprieve from what they're experiencing." 

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, know help is available at all times. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line at 741 741.

Click here to view all three parts of the studies.