DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)– There is a new suicide prevention task force in Dauphin County, one that involves the community saving lives.

There was a virtual welcome for the launch of Dauphin County ASPIRE or Allies For Suicide Prevention, Inspiring, Responding, Educating.

“Unfortunately, I lost my brother to suicide in 1980. On January 30. He was only 16, I was only 17.”

One of many reasons board member Govan Martin said he joined ASPIRE’s, nonprofit’s board.

“We have people dying by suicide. We have 48 people in Dauphin County that died by suicide last year,” Martin said.

Grant money from the opioid settlement funds ASPIRE and so far, 500 people have been trained.

“Classes can be anywhere from two hours to two days,” Martin said.

Volunteers from all walks of life from schools to “doctors to therapists,” ASPIRE board member Jennifer Hayes said. “We feel that that we call it the three Bs beauticians, barbers and bartenders. So we really are trying to get to people that are natural listeners. We did a training last week for firefighters.”

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“Our folks, being able to recognize signs and symptoms in, not only ourselves and our colleagues, but also the people that we’re trying to help so that we can get them some sort of early intervention or get them the help that they need so we can prevent a disaster from happening,” Brett Graham, Lower Paxton Township Deputy Fire Chief, said.

Those trained connect those struggling to help.

“So the training is pretty it’s it’s a basic training, but it helps people understand you just have to listen sometimes,” Hayes said. “And then you’re able to direct those people that are having suicidal thoughts to resources.”

Lower Paxton Township Police officer Blake Iorio, who’s also a task force board member, responds to suicide calls. He says ASPIRE is desperately needed.

“Our basic goal is just education and training and we can provide that to the stakeholders within the community,” Iorio said. “Hopefully we can take bigger steps to preventing suicide as a whole.”

ASPIRE is not a hotline, for immediate help call 988. To find out more about ASPIRE’s September conference or volunteer for training, visit their website.

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