Centreville Holds Suicide Prevention Conversation
Community members and behavioral health experts gathered at Centreville United Methodist Church to discuss suicide prevention in Queen Anne's County.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Substance Abuse
Community members and behavioral health experts held an inaugural suicide prevention conversation in Centreville on October 29, held at Centreville United Methodist Church. The event followed a wave of local loss over the past year and a half.
Why it matters
Queen Anne's County recorded 71 suicide-related crisis calls in fiscal year 2026, and officials said the collaborative discussions are just the beginning. The conversation was held in response to local losses affecting residents across the county.
Queen Anne's County logged 71 suicide-related crisis calls in fiscal year 2026, and hospital visits tied to suicide and self-harm rose 12.9% over the same period. In 2024, 13.9% of county youth reported seriously considering suicide, though the extraction does not detail how these figures will guide future county action.
The players
Mid Shore Behavioral Health
A regional behavioral health provider serving the Mid Shore area of Maryland's Eastern Shore, which helped establish the Mid Shore Suicide Coalition.
Katie Dilley
The chief executive officer of Mid Shore Behavioral Health, who spoke at the Centreville event.
Mid Shore Suicide Coalition
A collaboration of community partners and consultants established through Channel Marker and Mid Shore Behavioral Health to address suicide prevention in the region.
The details
A panel of professionals and community experts shared insights ranging from prevention and early intervention to crisis response and recovery. Small group conversations followed to discuss solutions and recommendations, with Mid Shore Behavioral Health CEO Katie Dilley among the speakers.
Timeline
Fiscal year 2026: county recorded 71 crisis calls and a 12.9% rise in hospital visits
2024: 13.9% of county youth reported seriously considering suicide
October 29: inaugural community conversation held in Centreville
November 9: next Queen Anne's County community conversation at Kent Island Library
Health Landscape
The Centreville conversation extends the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline framework into local prevention and recovery work, which spans early intervention through crisis response. The 988 line, which can be called or texted at any time, remains the immediate resource that community efforts in Queen Anne's County are built around.
Residents seeking help can call or text the 988 crisis hotline at any time. Community members interested in prevention work can attend the upcoming November 9 conversation at Kent Island Library.
The takeaway
Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or distress can call or text 988 at any time for immediate support. Reaching out early, whether to a crisis line or a trusted person, is a practical step any resident can take.
What happens next
The next Queen Anne's County Community Conversation on suicide prevention is scheduled for November 9 at Kent Island Library.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Substance Abuse reporting from across the region.
More information
Find more information on support services through Mid Shore Behavioral Health.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MyEasternShoreMD.
