For the second time in a month, provincial police in Elgin County are raising awareness about the supports available for people experiencing a mental health crisis after officers were called to five separate suicide attempts over a 24 hour period.
The first call came in around 7pm on Friday after a 77-year-old man was found without vital signs in Kettle Creek River, near the Port Stanley lift bridge.
Then just after 12:30pm on Saturday, a 28-year-old man suffered life-threatening injuries after a suicide attempt in the West Edith Cavell St. area of Port Stanley.
In the hours that followed, OPP were called to similar incidents near the East Beach in Port Burwell, Jackson Line in Bayham, and Richmond Rd. and John Wise Line near Aylmer. The three people involved in those cases were admitted to hospital under the Mental Health Act.
Police are reminding the public that crisis services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through Reach Out, a phone service for individuals experiencing mental health concerns, addictions, or crisis. Reach Out can be contacted by calling 519-433-2023 or toll-free at 1-866-933-2023.
Additional support is available through the Canadian Mental Health Association at 110 Centre St. in St. Thomas or at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital.
Police issued a similar message detailing mental health supports in the community in May, after officers were called to three suicide attempts over a one-hour time span.