Each September, we are reminded that suicide is not just a personal tragedy. It is a public health crisis that touches every part of life in Maine. It’s a time to remember those we've lost, support those who are struggling and recommit ourselves to the work of prevention.

But to truly make a difference, we must confront the full scope of the problem — including its intersection with gun violence, domestic abuse and the often-overlooked cases where suicide is accompanied by homicide.

In Maine, more than half of all suicides involve a firearm. The presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of suicide — and that risk is even more severe when domestic violence is present. Homicide‑suicide cases, particularly involving intimate partners, have become tragically familiar in our state. These are not rare, unpredictable events. They are part of a deadly pattern rooted in untreated trauma, cycles of abuse and easy access to lethal weapons.

I know personally how devastating this can be to families. My own family experienced familial homicide when my aunt, my father’s sister, was murdered in a murder‑suicide committed by her partner.

Veterans in our state face an especially high risk of suicide. As of 2022, Maine’s veteran suicide rate was 39.8 per 100,000 people — far above the 23.1 per 100,000 rate for Maine’s general population and the national general rate of 18.4 per 100,000.

Furthermore, the true toll is likely understated. When including self-injury and overdose deaths, the suicide rate among veterans may be as much as 2.4 times higher than VA figures report.

This elevated risk reflects complex contributing factors — disconnection after service, challenges re-integrating into civilian life, untreated trauma and disproportionately high access to firearms. Yet a majority of veterans who die by suicide had no contact with support services beforehand — an alarming gap that demands immediate attention.

To reduce suicide, we must prevent domestic violence, reduce gun-related deaths and invest in early intervention. That includes ensuring access to mental health care, especially in rural communities like ours, where resources are limited. It means expanding survivor support services, providing trauma-informed counseling and building systems that protect those at risk before tragedy strikes.

But policy alone isn’t enough. Suicide prevention also requires a cultural shift — toward openness, toward compassion and toward reducing the stigma around mental health and seeking help. Silence and shame are powerful barriers. Too many people suffer in the dark, convinced that asking for help is a weakness or that their pain is a burden. We need to send a different message: You are not alone. There is help. There is hope.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential and available 24/7. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence is available at 1‑866‑834‑HELP. Veterans, active-duty service members, caregivers and families seeking help may also call 988 then press 1, text 838255 or use an online chat to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line.

In the Legislature, I will continue working to strengthen Maine’s mental health system, support survivors of domestic violence, and advocate for responsible, commonsense approaches that reduce incidents of suicide. But real change also happens in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities — every time we speak up, reach out or choose compassion over silence.

Preventing suicide means addressing the full reality behind it. It means recognizing how violence, trauma and despair are often connected. And it means standing together to create a Maine where every person — no matter their struggle — knows they are seen, supported and worth saving.

Rep. Holly B. Stover, D-Boothbay, is serving her fourth term in the Maine House. She is a member of the budget-writing Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.