National Suicide Prevention Week: What You Can Do To Help

Email to a friend Permalink

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Tom Parker, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Imagine for a moment that 700 Oregonians had died from a public health menace. 

That’s more than five times the number of homicides. Included in that number is an average of two Portlanders who died each week from the same cause. And then imagine that those deaths were preventable.

What do you suppose would be the response?

The hue and cry from the public would be overwhelming. Every possible resource would be marshaled to prevent the deaths and end the epidemic. Yet this threat is rarely spoken about.

The stunning fact: Over 700 Oregonians die by suicide every year.

As we learned from the recent deaths of Robin Williams, Pink Martini percussionist Derek Rieth and Dundee’s Jennifer Huston, the threat of suicide can come to any of us.

Underlying cause

The underlying cause is often a mental health crisis, including depression, which causes a person to lose track of their reasons for living. It’s estimated that a fourth of the population will undergo a mental health crisis in a given year. But it likely won’t be discussed.

Why not?

Shame. Stigma. Fear.

Mental illness and suicide are so wrapped up in stigma that it often becomes a dirty family secret, wrapped in fear and shame and only whispered about.

We wouldn’t take that approach with a physical health ailment. Indeed we would openly discuss a family history of heart disease, diabetes or other illnesses to be sure those closest to us could reduce their susceptibility to the disease and get the help they needed.

You wouldn’t ask a person with diabetes to “snap out of it.” Mental health should be no different. Treatment is available, and it works. 

Suicide prevention week

This week is Suicide Prevention Week. A time to raise awareness that suicide is a primary cause of premature death, and that suicide is preventable.

How do we prevent it?

It starts with open and honest conversation. Most people don’t want to die, they just can’t see a way forward from the crisis they’re in. 

Most suicidal people give definite warnings of their intentions, but friends, loved ones and co-workers are either unaware of these warning signs, or have no idea how to respond to them.

Suicidal crises tend to be brief. When those behaviors are detected early, lives can be saved.

Persistent myths

There are two persistent myths that prevent others from reaching out. 

First and foremost, is the fear that if they ask someone if they’re considering suicide that they’ll be giving them the idea for the first time. Absolutely false. As a matter of fact, it can open a conversation that can relieve the stress and get much needed help.

Another persistent myth is that if someone is talking about suicide they aren’t going to act on it. False. This is literally a cry for help and an opportunity to discuss the problem.

Be aware of the warning signs of suicide:

• Threatening or talking of wanting to hurt or kill themselves
• Looking for ways to kill themselves by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means; 
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary
• Increased substance (alcohol or drug) use 
• No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life 
• Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time 
• Feeling trapped - like there’s no way out 
• Hopelessness 
• Withdrawal from friends, family and society 
• Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge 
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking 
• Dramatic mood changes

 

How to help

Here’s how you can help in a conversation about suicide:

• Be direct. Talk openly and freely about suicide. 
• Be willing to listen. Allow for expression of feelings. Accept the Feelings.
• Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or feelings are good or bad. 
• Don’t dare him/her to do it. 
• Don’t give advice by making decisions for someone else to tell them to behave differently. 
• Don’t ask ‘why’. This encourages defensiveness.
• Offer empathy, not sympathy.
• Don’t act shocked. This creates distance. 
• Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support. 
• Offer hope that alternatives are available.

The Lines for Life Suicide Lifeline takes more than 17,000 calls a year. And our highly trained crisis intervention specialists de-escalate 98 percent of those. 

Understandably many feel ill-equipped to handle the conversation. But there is help. Call and we will give you the words that will help the person you are worried about reach out to us and reconnect with their reasons for living.

This is the time to take action. Let’s shine a bright light on the conspiracy of stigma and shame surrounding mental illness and suicide and prevent these tragic deaths. 

Tom Parker is the Communications Director of Lines for Life, a nonprofit whose mission is to prevent substance abuse and suicide. The Suicide Hotline number is (800) 273-TALK (8255) 

Home Page Photo Credit: Helga Weber via Compfight cc

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink