Charlene Ray embarked on her first year of employment as a school social worker anticipating helping students with an array of problems: family discord, bullying and the pains of transitioning into adulthood.

She did not anticipate that a student would commit suicide.

Silence enshrouded the school in the days and weeks following the tragedy, Ray recalled. In those days, the 1980s, such things weren’t talked about.

“He just wasn’t there anymore.”

Ray was one of five speakers on a panel discussion on suicide held last month at the Coupeville Library.

The discussion, hosted by the Island County Democrats, centered upon the idea of suicide as a community concern.

Panelists discussed risk factors and high-risk groups, preventative measures and intervention strategies.

“Suicide is a community problem,” said Mark Lucero, a licensed mental health counselor and founder of Pathways Counseling in Coupeville. “On some level, every suicide is a failure of community.”

Panelists were Dr. Charles Huffine, a retired psychiatrist with 50 years of experience specializing in adolescent and family psychiatry; James Barrett DeLong, a professor at the University of Washington School of Social Work; Lucero; Ray, mental health supervisor for Island County Human Services; and Rev. Dave Bieniek, chaplain and bereavement coordinator at Whidbey General Hospital Hospice Care.

Each of the panelists discussed having had some personal experience with suicide, whether it be the death of a patient or student or the passing of an acquaintance, family member or friend.

Today, Ray said she handles calls regarding suicide on a weekly basis.

“Some weeks it seems like it’s daily,” she said.

In a statement that elicited several audible reactions from the crowd, Ray noted that although the majority of suicidal ideation is among teens and adults, she and colleagues have heard thoughts of suicide expressed by children as young as five years old.

Island County has several age-appropriate mental health programs in place to assist such individuals and families, Ray said.

Overall, the suicide rate in Washington state is above the national average. Washington state’s age-adjusted rate is 14 per 100,000 people, while the national average is 12 per 100,000 people, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

These numbers are based on national data from 2010, the most recent year for which national data is available.

In Island County, there were 11 reported suicides in 2014, according to the Department of Health.

In previous years, that number had been steadily increasing, with 23 reported suicides in 2013, 18 in 2012 and 15 in 2011.

Factors such as depression, post-traumatic stress and other mental health issues, substance abuse, severe physical limitations or pain, family distress and trauma can contribute to an increased probability of suicide in individuals of any age, according to panelists.

For youth and teens, factors such as bullying at school can also increase the probability of suicidal ideation. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people ages 15-24, following homicide as the second leading cause of death in that age group. Among 25-34 year olds, suicide is the second leading cause of death.

According to the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey 2014, 23 percent of 10th graders in Island County expressed that they have considered suicide within the past 12 months, compared to 20 percent of 10th graders statewide. Thirty-five percent of Island County 10th graders said they had struggled with depression within the past 12 months. That number is equal statewide. Twenty-eight percent of Island County 10th graders reported having been bullied in the past 12 months, compared to 23 percent statewide.

Barrett DeLong, who is also a co-founder of Island County PFLAG, noted that members of the LGBTQ community, especially transgender individuals, are also at a significantly increased risk of suicide.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, other high-risk groups include males ages 45 and older, individuals living in rural areas, those living in high-poverty or lower educational attainment areas and those who have served in the armed forces.

DeLong, who has extensive experience working with the elderly population, noted that older adults are also at a greater risk of depression and suicide, often due to severe physical limitations.

Death with Dignity, Bieniek clarified, is not considered suicide and is not listed as such on death certificates or by insurance companies.

Those with a history of suicidal ideation or mental illness, he said, are most often not permitted to partake in a Death with Dignity option.

Regardless of demographic, panelists urged attendees to recognize that avoiding the issue and the discussion is often far more dangerous than directly addressing it, including in conversations with the at-risk individual.

“Engagement with people who are considering suicide is critical,” said Huffine.

“A solution is a community solution,” Lucero said, adding that small acts of compassion can go a long way.

For 24/7 suicide prevention support, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

For members of the GLBT community or those who are questioning their gender or sexuality, the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 and GLBT National Help Center at 1-888-843-4564 are also available resources.