Poplarville police Capt. James Steinkamp reported one man from Carriere hanged himself behind the Mini Mart at Highway 11 and Highway 26.

Steinkamp identified the man as Danny Lirette, 34, and said he didn’t know of any motive.

“There was no note,” Steinkamp said. “He just hung himself from a shoe string.”

Steinkamp said the man’s body was discovered about 10 feet into a wooded area behind the convenience store. The captain said an off-duty sheriff’s deputy discovered the body 9:30 Saturday morning.

County Coroner Derek Turnage said he is working to determine the exact time of death, but he estimates Lirette died sometime in the early morning hours.

“Some time shortly after midnight,” said Turnage. “It’s hard to say exactly when. Nobody saw him (do it). The last time we have a witness who saw him was 7 p.m.”

Steinkamp said Lirette did not have identification on him, so it took a while to identify the man.

Efforts by the Picayune Item to contact the family were not successful by deadline Monday.

Steinkamp said this was the first suicide in Poplarville this year, though there have been several suicides around the county. Turnage said the exact number of people who have committed suicide is unknown, but he said over the last couple of years, the trend has shifted upward.

“This is affecting every age range, from 14 year olds to elderly, older adults,” he said.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in Mississippi, and it occurs on average once every 22 hours.

Turnage said area public schools have developed prevention programs, and the state’s Department of Mental Health has a free helpline, available 24-hours a day at 1-877-210-8513 and the national Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255.

Turnage said people should remember to check on their loved ones and friends who may have mental health issues.

“We just need to check on our family and friends,” he said. “Especially those who are going through metal illness and depression. This is something we need to stay vigilant on.”