By SAMANTHA HURST / Staff Writer / Posted: Thursday, October 25, 2007 8:34 AM CDT

With the end of the year near, Shelby County Coroner Diana Hawkins is afraid 2007's suicide rate will surpass last year's number. Twenty-two people in Shelby County have already ended their own lives this year - matching 2006's total.

But there are those trying to bring that figure back down.

"It seems like there is just a lot of this going on," said Cindi Weeks, whose 18-year-old son Matt committed suicide a little more than a year ago. "Too many of these kids feel hopeless."

Matt graduated from Oak Mountain High School in 2006.

His mother said he dealt with depression throughout high school but seemed to be doing better when he decided to move to Auburn and attend Southern Union Community College.

She said just two days into classes though, he told her he wanted to leave. The following Monday, Matt took his own life.

"I think since Matt was thinking about suicide he felt he could never be normal again," Weeks said. "But there is help out there. We need to get rid of the stigma that is attached to someone who has depression."

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., the second leading cause among Americans aged 25-34 and the third among 15-to 24-year-olds according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Local volunteers participated in an Out of the Darkness Walk held at Heardmont Park in September, but their work to raise awareness has not halted since.

The Matt Weeks team raised almost $45,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Now those who participated are working to create a local foundation chapter.

Even more people are simply lending an ear. Howard Mullis is a North Shelby resident who has volunteered with the Birmingham Crisis and Suicide Line for the past three and a half years.

"Only after I got involved did I really see the impact it had," Mullis said. "Many times we help someone just make it through the day."

Mullis said listening is key.

"When somebody starts talking about something you consider crazy, its important to take them seriously," Mullis said. "Listen to them; don't write them off."

Mary Bartlett, assistant professor and coordinator of the community counseling track at the University of Montevallo, said the hope is that more people will be able to walk away from thoughts of suicide through intervention. She said family and friends need to be aware of how to help their loved ones.

"They aren't attention seeking, they are help seeking," Bartlett said. "Which makes it so important to know where to refer them to get help."

If you or someone you know is in need of help, the number for the Birmingham Crisis and Suicide Line is 205-323-7777 or 1-800-273-TALK.

Copyright © 2007 Shelby County Reporter