Lawrence Township Police Probe Weekend Suicides

Lawrence Township police are investigating two apparently unrelated suicides that took place over the weekend, police department spokesman Lt. Charles Edgar confirmed.

There is no evidence of foul play in either death, he said.

The first suicide took place in a room at the Sleep-E-Hollow motel in the 3000 block of Brunswick Pike (Route 1).

The deceased, a woman from Pennsylvania, was discovered shortly before 1:40 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, by a motel staff member who had gone to the room to inquire why the woman had not paid her bill, Edgar said.

The second suicide occurred in a home in the township.

Family members found the male victim deceased in the basement about 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, after his employer called to inquire why he had failed to show up for work, according to Edgar.

He said both deaths remain under investigation by Detective William Chester.

In the interest of protecting the identities of the deceased and their grieving families, Patch is withholding the ages of the deceased, as well as the residential address of the second suicide. 

There are several organizations, national and local, that offer prevention counseling and crisis support to individuals considering taking their own life or fear that a loved one is thinking about suicide.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a network of more than 140 crisis centers across the United States, operates a hotline for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Free, confidential counseling is available through the hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

The hotline can be reached by calling (800) 273-TALK (8255).

Veterans can be connected to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline by calling (800) 273-TALK (8255) and entering the number “1.”

The veterans’ hotline is operated by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

CONTACT of Mercer County

A local nonprofit organization based in Ewing, CONTACT has been providing suicide prevention counseling 24-hours a day, seven days a week since 1975.

“CONTACT programs help people in Mercer County who are looking for someone to listen to them, ease their despair and help them share the daily burdens of life,” according to the organization’s website. “CONTACT saves lives that would be lost to suicide.  CONTACT volunteers care about other people and demonstrate their commitment to service through hours of listening to lonely and depressed people.”

The CONTACT hotline can be reached by calling (609) 896-2120 or (609) 585-2244.

NAMI Mercer

Based in Lawrence, the Mercer County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness provides information and support to people and families affected by mental illness.

NAMI’s help line, which is in operation 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, can be reached at (609) 799-8994.

Suicide.org

This website contains a variety of resources about suicide prevention, as well as information for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

According to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, warning signs for suicide include:

• Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
• Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means
• Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person
• Feeling hopeless
• Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities - seemingly without thinking
• Feeling trapped - like there's no way out
• Increasing alcohol or drug use
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
• Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Experiencing dramatic mood changes
• Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life