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Bluegrass community dealing with 166% increase in suicide

Bluegrass Police say there’s no explanation for a rash of suicides in the Scott County community, but they are hoping the public leans on them for help. O...

Bluegrass Police say there's no explanation for a rash of suicides in the Scott County community, but they are hoping the public leans on them for help.

Over the past year, there's been a 166 percent increase in suicides.

"In 2012, we responded to 7 suicide investigations, in 2013, we responded to 8. And this year, we're at 24. It's scary, it's sad," said Officer Garrett Jahns.

Jahns disclosed the dramatic jump on the Police Department's Facebook page, and wrote a passionate message that came from the heart.

"Just like you, we never just get over it. The tragedy becomes a piece of us, that we have to learn to live with now," he wrote.

He encouraged people to seek help from the department, to hold on for one more day.

"We're available to talk anytime. We are always here," he says.

Officer Jahns experienced the pain of suicide after one of his best buddies in the police academy killed himself in 2011.

"His depression got the best of him. He was on duty, he ended up taking his own life with his duty weapon and shooting himself in the chest," he said.

"Let's get it out there. Let's talk about the pink elephant in the room," he said.

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