MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — While some are physically behind bars, others are also mentally locked away -- it's the hardest confinement to escape.
"That was my rock bottom," former inmate Chablis Dandridge told WCNC Charlotte's Tradesha Woodard. "That's the lowest place anybody can be and still be alive."
Dandridge recalls his time being imprisoned, one of the lowest moments of his life. While he was able to escape, his friend wasn’t as lucky.
If you or a loved one are facing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, there is help readily available. You can call Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat with them online. There are also resources in North Carolina available here and in South Carolina available here.
"He committed suicide, he hung himself in the shower early morning," Dandridge said.
While this incident happened in prison, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office says they’re seeing an increase in suicide attempts at the jail.
So far in 2024, there have been 15 suicide attempts within the Mecklenburg County Detention Center, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office. That's not far from the total amount of attempts in 2023.
In 2023, there were a total of 19 attempts, according to MCSO. In 2022, there were 24 attempts in which MCSO was able to intervene, and one death by suicide in custody.
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The sheriff's office said it is working to address this "notable rise."
Sheriff Garry McFadden believes MCSO officers and the health care provider VitalCore Health Strategies will be able to make a difference through a "proactive and compassionate approach." MCSO specifically noted how a detention center officer recently saved a resident's life through the use of this approach and with the help of other residents.
MCSO staff takes part in training for emergency medical response as well as crisis intervention, the sheriff's office said, and VitalCore Health Strategies uses tailored medical, behavioral and mental health services and holistic care like rehabilitative programs to help individuals. Additionally, residents are immediately seen by a registered nurse or provider after an incident, according to MCSO.
“We are here to support. We are here to serve. And we are here to save and change lives,” McFadden said in a statement. “We will continue prioritizing resident safety and well-being and remain steadfast in our mission to continue providing the highest standard of care within the detention center.”
McFadden encourages those with loved ones in the detention center to visit, saying in the news release he believes it strengthens ties and can improve mental health.
The sheriff's office asks anyone whose loved one in the detention center is struggling with suicidal thoughts to contact McFadden directly at garry.mcfadden@mecklenburgcountync.gov or by calling the office at 704-336-2543.
Tradesha Woodard: Contact Tradesha Woodard at twoodard1@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.