Now more than ever, our mental health is vital to our survival. We have been living in a
pandemic for many months now and we are all negatively impacted in several ways. Our access
to helpful resources is somewhat limited, yet we know that depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other
struggles are more prevalent right now. We are experiencing collective trauma on top of all the other stressors and traumas present in our lives before the virus took over. However, the situation is not without hope.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
All of us have been affected by suicide in one way or another. Perhaps it’s the grief over losing a loved one to suicide and the anger and confusion that comes with it or a person plagued by recurring suicidal thoughts or past suicide attempts. Whatever the experience,
You may be asking what can be done to help prevent suicide. First, you have to know what to
look for. Some warning signs include the following:
Increased alcohol and drug use
Aggressive behavior
Withdrawal from friends, family and community
Dramatic mood swings
Impulsive or reckless behavior
Such warning signs may be indicative of another issue, and understanding risk factors is
essential:
A family history of suicide
Substance use. Substances can create mental highs and lows that worsen suicidal thoughts
Access to firearms
A serious or chronic medical illness
Gender. Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are nearly 4x more
likely to die by suicide
A history of trauma or abuse
Prolonged stress
A recent tragedy or loss
If you see warning signs of suicidality, address it immediately. It’s hard to know the right thing
to say or the right way to say it, so here are some helpful tips:
Talk openly and honestly. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like: “Do you have a plan for
how you would kill yourself?”
Remove means such as guns, knives or stockpiled pills
Calmly ask simple and direct questions, like “Can I help you call your psychiatrist?”
If there are multiple people around, have one person speak at a time
Express support and concern
Don’t argue, threaten or raise your voice
Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong
If you’re nervous, try not to fidget or pace
Be patient
(source: NAMI. https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/suicide-prevention-
awareness-month)
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to someone immediately. If there isn’t
someone in your life that you feel comfortable talking to, you can call the National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI) helpline at 800-950-NAMI or text “NAMI” to 741741, or the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also go to the nearest emergency
department.
The most important thing you can do is stay alive. Please do not commit suicide. Your life
is important and there is always help available.
-Claudia Hooker
Leave a Reply