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West Virginia sees consistent rise in suicide rates, “In West Virginia especially we have a lot of those stressors that are piling on people.”

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West Virginia sees consistent rise in suicide rates, “In West Virginia especially we have a lot of those stressors that are piling on people.”


PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – As of February 2023, West Virginia ranks at 10 out of 50 states for state suicide rate. With 20.6 people dying by suicide per 100,000 people.

After speaking with Dr. Stephen Givens and Michael Moore, of the counseling and wellness center they attribute those high numbers to the constant stressors we face in life.

“You think about stressors and how they come in different forms and in West Virginia especially we have a lot of those stressors that are piling on people. Economic stressors, job loss, job insecurity, being underemployed,” said Michael Moore.

The impact of suicide for all involved is an issue that can’t be overshadowed. It can impact families, friends and entire communities.

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“I think that’s important to understand both sides of what we have to be able to help here in our counseling center is not only for the loss but and helping someone from prevention with that but also the outcomes of this ripple effect that not just effects that one person but the people they’re connected with as well,” said Dr. Givens.

One thing they mention is the togetherness of the Appalachia region that can help people who are struggling.

“The Appalachian culture is one that we pull together when there is a flood, there is a fire when there is a natural disaster the neighbors will pull out and the community will come together,” said Moore.

Moore and Givens were advocates of speaking to a professional. Since the pandemic they both stated they have seen a massive increase of people willing to talk.

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West Virginia

WestCare West Virginia opens male residential facility in Buckhannon

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WestCare West Virginia opens male residential facility in Buckhannon


BUCKHANNON, W.Va (WDTV) – WestCare West Virginia cut the ribbon for its Hope in the Mountains complex on 22 N. Locust Street. The new facility will treat men with substance abuse issues with the hopes of fighting the drug epidemic in West Virginia.

Each room in the complex includes 56 beds, a television set and clean bathroom. Stephen Wright spoke ahead of the ribbon cutting along with Buckhannon officials. He said this facility differs from others on how they approach treatment.

“We really focus on the individual and the individual needs and focus on their progress in the program versus a number of days that a person is in treatment. So it’s really individualized,” said Stephen Wright, chief operating officer of WestCare Appalachia. “So we still need aftercare, outpatient counseling, and those things. But this really gives an opportunity for an intervention to break that cycle for individuals struggling with addiction. Because lots of times they must be separated from the living circumstances that they’re in at that time.”

Copyright 2026 WDTV. All rights reserved.

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West Virginia Scores Rehearing Over Drug Discount Injunction

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West Virginia Scores Rehearing Over Drug Discount Injunction


A federal appeals court agreed to rehear West Virginia’s request to lift an injunction barring enforcement of state restrictions against drugmakers seeking to limit discounts to pharmacies under a federal program.

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted Thursday West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey’s request to rehear en banc arguments over a preliminary injunction. All active judges in the court will review the case after a three-judge panel in March ruled to keep the state’s SB 325 temporarily blocked while litigation plays out over the law.

The court said the case is scheduled for oral argument …



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Heavy rain, flooding affect multiple north-central West Virginia counties – WV MetroNews

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Heavy rain, flooding affect multiple north-central West Virginia counties – WV MetroNews


BARBOUR COUNTY, W.Va. –Rainy conditions in the Mountain State are expected to subside after six days of continuous rainfall across West Virginia.

Basketball Court in Jane Lew’s city park in Lewis County (Photo: Jane Lew Town Hall Facebook)

On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch and a flood watch for most of the state as rain continued moving across the region.

NWS Meteorologist Tom Mazza said north-central West Virginia counties—including Wirt, Calhoun, Lewis, and Barbour—were hit hardest by rain showers throughout the day.

“That whole stretch just south of Clarksburg, Clarksburg got a little flooding too, but that area did get hit with the flooding, along with tree damage, so severe thunderstorms there as well,” Mazza said.

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In Jane Lew, located in Lewis County, West Virginia, the town hall posted on Facebook that the town park will be closed due to flooding. Officials said it will remain closed until they can assess the damage caused by the flooding.

In Harrison County, the town of Lost Creek also experienced heavy rain and flooding.

Barbour County Emergency Manager Corey Brandon said they received several rounds of heavy rain throughout the day Wednesday.

Jane Lew city park (Photo: Jane Lew Town Hall Facebook)

He said this caused flooding in areas that typically experience flooding during heavy rain events.

“Which resulted in a lot of water getting out of the ditch line, and also our streams and creeks getting out of their ditch lines and causing a lot of problems for a lot of low-lying areas,” Brandon said.

He said they saw a lot of rain in the Clemtown, Moatsville, and Nestorville areas, which they hadn’t seen since 2018.

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Brandon said they also had to relocate an elderly woman because rising water was nearly blocking the only access road to her home.

“She had some mobility issues, so the fire department requested that we get her out of the house just in case something were to happen overnight and weren’t able to get to her after that point,” he said.

Brandon said emergency services and the Philippi Fire Department were able to reach her and relocate her to a hotel until the water recedes.

He said that while crews were assisting the woman at her home, areas they typically monitor were beginning to recede.

Brandon said officials are now monitoring local rivers to ensure they do not rise out of their banks.

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“Now were anxiously awaiting for the streams and creeks to subside and now we’ll be watching the local rivers to make sure that they stay in their banks as well,” he said.

said that after the rain seen since last Thursday, the region should experience a brief dry spell.

“Leftover showers in the morning (Thursday), clouds and fog, with a gradual clearing during the day Thursday, then it looks like we have several days of nice weather, seasonal spring weather to allow us to dry out,” he said.



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