 With suicide rates on the rise in Pike County, maintaining good mental health is increasingly important. I spoke to Public Health Director Tammy Riley to learn more about crisis and mental health resources in the area. Pike County is having a mental health crisis in that we have experienced eight adult suicides in under 30 days. So that's an incredibly alarming number and statistically very significant in comparison to last year's numbers for the entire year. But we do have wonderful resources available and we need to raise awareness of the new 988 number. 988 is the new 911 for mental health crisis. It's an easy number to remember and it has some really important features that our community needs to be aware. Appalachian Wireless Forward Pay, no credit check, no contract and most features of postpaid. We now take advantage of $75 off select forward pay devices and ask about our awesome plans. Forward pay because we are you. We are Appalachian Wireless. In addition to the crisis hotline, there are several support groups and local centers that offer mental health services. We have ample resources available in Pike County from Mountain Comprehensive Care Senors 24-7 Crosses Center to Veterans Prevention, suicide prevention group to a substance use disorder coalition. They all address suicide prevention and mental health in one way or another. But in the throes of a crisis, it's difficult to remember those variety of 1-800 numbers. 988 will get an individual during a crisis very quickly linked to the appropriate resource. And you can be assured that the individual on the other side of the 988, whether you're calling or texting, is a trained caring professional. Speaking about mental health with friends and family and restricting access to firearms can also aid in suicide prevention. With eight deaths in our county in under 30 days due to suicide, all eight with firearm connection, we need to know how to deal with this mental health crisis. Those who are having a crisis, whether it's substance use related or relationship related or career related, should make firearms not as readily available to themselves. Maybe even temporarily give those firearms to a trusted individual, loved one, a family member or just lock them up and not make them available to yourself temporarily. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reporting for Mountain Top News, I'm Brianna Robinson.