ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Albemarle County has seen a 19 percent increase in the number of people who have died by suicide in the last year. Nationally, suicides are up 80 percent.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness month, and the area has many resources to help people in mental health crises.

One of those is Region Ten.

Joanna Jennings with Region Ten said the upward trends are really concerning, and the community needs to be comfortable talking about suicide.

She said research shows talking decreases the likelihood of a suicide attempt.

"It's really important to remember that suicide touches us all. Every member of the community is impacted by suicide, and it's something that is preventable. And so just by getting education and awareness, September is a great time to do that. It can really help and make a difference," she said.

Region Ten offers monthly courses in mental health first aid.

They're also helping to host a 5k in October with SPARC, the Suicide Prevention Awareness Resource Council.

Jennings said other great resources are the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline (988) and the Regional Crisis Call Center.