Saturday, March 13, 2021 - 8:30 am
BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week
OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad Chief of Emergency Services Ken Gardner says he’s seen a significant increase in suicide and overdose calls as the pandemic lingers on.
“In the last month, we’ve had eight suicides. In our district, we’ve had five,” he said.
Gardner says he can’t blame the increase in deaths and suicides directly on COVID-19 or the impact of isolation, but says he believes it’s “not helping.”
Gardner says he’s seen younger victims and older victims. In addition to gunshots and hanging, he’s seen methods used recently that are less common than what he’s seen in the past.