Call 988 If You’re In A Crisis
Choptank Electric Cooperative Trust Board Supports Crisis Prevention
The Choptank Electric Trust is supporting an awareness campaign, coordinated by Jesse’s Paddle, to inform communities across the Eastern Shore about the major upgrade to services for people in crisis. Jesse’s Paddle: The Jesse Klump Suicide Awareness and Prevention Program, based in Worcester County, has been dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention since its inception in February 2009. The program was created in memory of Jesse Klump, who was only 17 years old when he took his own life. His mother wanted him to live on and create something out of the tragedy.
“Jesse worked with me here at the Pocomoke River Canoe Company since he was 14,” said Ron Pilling, Corresponding Secretary, volunteer, and one of the founders for Jesse’s Paddle. “He was a smart kid, good athlete, fantastic musician, and just an all-around good kid. It blind-sided everyone when he took his life.”
This group’s sole goal and desire is to raise awareness and educate local community members on the lower shore about mental health, the warning signs, and how to act in the face of a crisis situation. As the largest suicide prevention group on the lower Eastern Shore, they visit over 75 events annually along with educational opportunities with health departments, schools, and other county entities. Their biggest goal yet has come this year as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration begins a new campaign for promotion of an easy and cohesive number anyone can call in the event of a personal mental health crisis or if you know someone in a mental health crisis and don’t know what to do. The new number is called 988. Similar to 911, this line is dedicated to helping those who are in an emergency mental health crisis. Trained counselors will be on standby 24/7 to help anyone who is struggling with their mental health or substance abuse.
To help spread the word that this national number has universally changed to 988, the Jesse’s Paddle program wanted to hold an awareness campaign originally for the lower three counties. When Trust Board Member Jackie Brown began her initial assessment of the application from Jesse’s Paddle to cover a 988 awareness program for the three lower counties, she recommended that the Trust Board provide funds above and beyond the requested amount to reach out,” said Tom Terry, Chairman of the Choptank Electric Trust Board. “So Jackie and I sat down with Ron and asked if they could expand their services to all counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. When he agreed, we were ecstatic that the group would go above and beyond their initial budget and reach out to additional counties to educate even more people about the new 988 number for suicide prevention and mental health.”
With the donation of $12,000 from the Choptank Electric Trust, Jesse’s Paddle will be promoting this new and essential service to all counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
“First off, I want to thank the Trust for the generous grant, and for the idea and opportunity to reach farther than we originally planned,” said Ron Pilling. “This is not the first time that the trust has generously donated to our program. A few years ago, they bought our first computer and projectors so that we could take presentations to schools and health facilities. They also bought for us the big exhibit table that we use for our booth at events. This is the third donation and it’s so timely. It’s the most generous funding they have supplied to date.”
Suicide and mental health are still taboo subjects among most Americans, and awareness is more than half the battle in saving lives. In 2020, suicide was the 12th leading cause of death in the United States at 13.48 suicides per 100,000 citizens. Rural America is even more affected by suicide than urban areas. In Maryland in 2020, rural counties on the Eastern Shore tended to have higher suicide rates as compared to more urban areas in the state. With Maryland’s overall rate being 10.15 suicides per 100,000 people, the Eastern Shore’s rate is 13.2 per 100,000. The CDC also suggests that one suicide costs the country on average $1.1 million when you add up that around 40 people are affected, the counseling that is needed, and lost time at work. “Roughly, we have spent around $350,000 in suicide prevention since we started the organization,” said Mr. Pilling. “We don’t often know for a fact that what we have done has directly saved a life, but when you hear one or two stories at every event that speaks to how we saved someone indirectly because of our education, or someone they knew took on our classes and saved a life, it’s worth it.”
“This is what makes this grant so timely,” he continued. “Mental health is critical today and people are finally starting to talk about it. Parents and community members are requesting information or a class for students now. With this easy to remember number, 988, it will make it so much more accessible to people who really need help.” “This program is near and dear to my heart,” said Jackie Brown, Worcester County Representative for the Choptank Electric Trust Board. “Jesse was my daughter’s classmate and was a fine young man. When I heard that the organization was beginning this campaign, I reached out to one of the board members and we collaborated with Ron on what they really needed. We cannot thank Ron enough for all he is doing to make this outreach as impactful as possible. It is a privilege to come alongside this organization to help promote the upcoming release of the 988 suicide response number.”
If you would like to donate to Jesse’s Paddle and their efforts on suicide awareness and prevention, you can visit jessespaddle.org. If you have an idea to share, or for more information about the Choptank Electric Trust, you can visit our website at choptankelectric.coop or call our Member Service Center at 1-877-892-0001.