New support group for people in Kings County who have lost a loved one to suicide [Video]

KINGS COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — More help is now available for people in the South Valley who have lost a loved one to suicide.

Starting this month, Kings County Behavioral Health will be hosting a Survivors of Suicide Loss support group. The group will meet every first Wednesday of the month.

“A non-judgmental space that provides essentially a supportive community,” said Polo Ortiz, Clinical Manager with Kings County Behavioral Health. “From that environment, creating a place where there could be education.”

According to the CDC, in 2022, over 49,000 people died by suicide. Numbers also show over 13 million million people contemplated suicide, nearly 4 million made a plan, and 1.6 million people attempted suicide.

Kings County Behavioral Health works closely with the coroner’s office to track the number of suicides in the county.

“Last year we had nine documented suicides,” said Ortiz. “This year we currently have 10. But in this case this year …