Before I begin this post I would like to extend my condolences to the family of a twelve year old Olathe boy who passed by suicide this past week. Folks, this is epidemic.
Here are some Olathe Police statistics* regarding mental health and suicide I would like to share with you.
In 2011 there were 1,073 mental health responses by the Olathe Police out of the 40,761 total responses…which is 2.6%.
In 2018 there were 2,241 mental health responses by the Olathe Police out of the 44,863 total responses…which is 5.0%
That’s nearly double in just seven years.
Suicides in JUST OLATHE
2012 22 highest in last ten years
2013 13 lowest in last ten years
2017 20
2018 21
2019 11 as of 10/29/2019
Now that eleven is twelve.
AWARENESS
Let me ask you, if the City of Olathe had experienced at total of fifty-three homicides since January 1, 2017…would our entire community be demanding action?
Republicans would be demanding tougher sentencing. Democrats would be demanding more restrictive gun laws. But suicides? A task force isn’t solving the problem. How many of you knew there were that many…in just the City of Olathe?
*Olathe Police statistics gathered by a trusted source within the police department
