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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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Letter: Suicide rate must be addressed

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The April 25 story “Clark County Jail suicide victim ID’d as Battle Ground man” reported on a young man who lost his life to suicide while in the Clark County Jail. I am not related to him or his family but I am saddened and sick that another life had to be lost. These inmates are someone’s loved one regardless of the reason they are in jail.

Multiple lives have been lost in this county jail, with higher suicide-attempt rates than other counties. Something has to be changed so another life is not lost while in the care of our deputies, who are supposed to keep watch of them.

I do know they added a mental health unit and although that is a good start, it’s clearly not enough. During intake those who are open and honest about their suicidal thoughts are housed in this unit, but what about the other percent who are not upfront about wanting to end their lives? Why are they not changing the way the units can respond in the entire jail? Wouldn’t doing more things to prevent another life being lost behind those walls be worth it?

Everyone keeps saying there’s not much more that can be done, but with more planning and putting those plans into action, something can be done to prevent another family from going through such a horrible event.

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