Richland County’s silent epidemic: Suicide rates rising, seniors at risk

“Isolated,” “lonely,” “disconnected” — these are words older adults in Richland County used in suicide letters to describe how they felt before killing themselves.

Those suicide letters have become all too common in Richland County, where suicide rates have risen sharply in the past two years.

Richland Coroner Nadia Rutherford said many letter writers were elderly and had difficulty maintaining human relationships or getting mental health help.

“In the suicide notes they left behind, they indicated that they felt like a burden to their families,” Rutherford said. “One note mainly talked about the fact that their families never come to visit.”

By the end of August, 49 lives had been lost to suicide in Richland, according to county data.

These 49 deaths have already exceeded the 47 in 2022 and are on track to surpass 72 in 2023.

It’s unclear if South Carolina’s other counties are seeing the same recent trend. State and national figures for 2023 and 2024 are not yet immediately accessible to the public.

In Richland, the surprising jump to 72 last year was the start of what is shaping up to be a troubling epidemic.

“It was an eye-opener,” Rutherford said. “Unfortunately, we are on track to surpass that this year.”

The coroner’s office does not detail the ages of those who died by suicide. But Rutherford said their ages ranged from 13 to 91, with a “shocking” number of seniors.

She said some people expressed feelings of abandonment, especially if they were no longer able to make ends meet as well as they used to.

“They felt like they were abruptly forgotten as members of the family,” Rutherford said. “They weren’t invited to family vacations or gatherings. The only time families visit them is when they go to a doctor’s appointment.”

Tackling the barriers

A representative of the South Carolina coroners attends the scenes of unusual, suspicious or violent deaths.

But coroners are also looking for safety trends and advice for county residents on how to prevent deaths where possible.

Part of the problem with the recent wave of suicides, Rutherford said, is a shift in technology that has left behind some elderly people who are not as tech-savvy.

For example, many mental health services can be accessed online. But for some seniors that can be difficult.

Chava Raymes, a South Carolina-based therapist for Blue Moon Senior Counseling, said the technological barrier could keep some seniors from seeking help.

“I think it seems scary to them,” Raymes said. “Older adults are in some ways much more distrustful of technology, and that’s fine. But they don’t fully understand how to use these resources.”

Rutherford suggests that mental health professionals are overlooking the older population because most resources are focused on younger people.

“I think that’s why we’re making this leap,” Rutherford said. “There’s just a big gap between this generation and the people who are getting older.”

Rutherford also said there is a declining number of mental health services in general, especially counselors.

“There aren’t a lot of free and readily available resources,” Rutherford said. “There can be a six-month waiting list, and by the end you’re already deep in crisis.”

The stigma surrounding mental health could prevent some from getting help.

“Especially with older men, there’s a stigma, like, ‘Oh, you don’t need help. You are not sad. You are not depressed,” said Jessica Barnes, program manager for the Office of Suicide Prevention at the South Carolina Department of Mental Health.

Some don’t want to be a “burden on other people,” especially their families, Raymes said.

“They often find it embarrassing, especially if they have been independent throughout adulthood. They forget how to ask for help,” Raymes said.

John Tjaarda, South Carolina regional director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, noted that suicide rates fell nationally during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

He suggests the decline was due to people being more focused and connected.

“They repeatedly played commercials that said, ‘It’s okay not to be okay,’” Tjaarda said. “They talked about reaching loved ones who were isolated. And that drop in the national suicide rate proved what works: having a deep sense of community and connection.”

Tjaarda said national suicide rates rose again in 2021 as COVID-19 began to recede.

“As the pandemic started to subside, so did the sense of connectivity,” Tjaarda said. “So in my opinion, we have seen what a country can do in a world focused on connection.”

Rutherford said reminding people in our lives that their presence is appreciated can go a long way.

“We are literally losing members of our community, and the numbers are increasing,” Rutherford said. “We have to continue to show these people how much they matter. We need to give them a life and a purpose beyond the fact that they have to wait patiently every day for someone to notice that they are still there.”

Recognizing signals, offering support

Tjaarda said mental health and suicide are extremely complex and affect everyone differently, but subtle warning signs can occur.

“If you notice a sudden withdrawal from something he or she loves, such as an older person who enjoys going to a bridge club, it could be an indication that a time of crisis is coming,” says Tjaarda.

Older people sometimes have difficulty accepting increased dependence on others, Barnes said. And a loss of mobility can also lead to self-isolation.

Family members and friends of seniors can often help in ways they may not realize.

Tjaarda said asking people directly if they are thinking about committing suicide is an effective strategy for normalizing discussions about mental health issues.

“Many people think this will put the thought in their heads, but our research has shown that this is not true,” Tjaarda said. “What happens is you’ve just taken this super taboo thing that they thought they couldn’t talk about and made it okay for them to talk about it. You have created a safe space for them to share their feelings, fears and pain, allowing them to be open about their problems.”

Raymes said her therapy sessions with older adults focus primarily on acceptance and control.

“I think the loss of control leads to a lot of anxiety and feelings of worthlessness,” Raymes said, noting that some may wonder, “What’s the point?”

Destigmatizing mental health care at all ages and ensuring seniors have access to the resources they deserve is the first step, she said.

“I actually don’t think the intention was for people to do it alone,” Raymes said. “In so many ways we need each other. And we need to learn how to ask for help at all ages.”

Barnes said that while it’s cliché, suicide prevention takes a village.

“There have been many times where I felt like I was in the right place at the right time, but it’s really a community effort,” Barnes said. “But I carry my hope with me, and I hold hope for others, even when they don’t feel like they have it.”

This story was submitted as part of an editorial partnership between South Carolina Public Radio and the University of South Carolina’s Carolina News and Reporter, which is responsible for its content. You can find more information about Carolina News and Reporter here.