Suicide ranks high as cause of death in young to middle ages
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Think mentioning suicide to someone is the wrong thing to do? Think again. Kelly Wolf, MA, suicide prevention trainer for VAYA, offered some important tips during a Suicide Prevention Awareness Month training in September.
“If you have concerns someone might be considering suicide, trust your gut and take those concerns seriously,” Wolf said. “Don’t be afraid to get involved or to ask the person directly if they are thinking about dying or killing themselves. If they are not considering suicide, you won’t put the idea into their heads and if they are, you may be able to help prevent that tragic outcome by initiating this dialogue with them.”
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month was created as an effort to educate the public about what may be the most preventable type of death, suicide. Even so, some statistics show it is on the rise. In 2018, suicide was the second leading cause of death among Americans in the age groups of 10-14, 15-24 and 25-34, according to data from the CDC National Injury Prevention and Control. For those between 35 and 54, it was the No. 4 leading cause of death and No. 8 for people ages 55 to 64. More than 48,000 people of all ages died by suicide in this country in 2018.
The good news is many suicide prevention initiatives have begun and efforts are being made to educate the public about how to recognize, offer help and potentially stop a suicide. A list of suggested resources is at the end of this article. In the meantime, you might be able to help by paying attention and watching for signs compiled from some of the sites. Isolation and other feelings of loss can make anyone become despondent or feel hopeless, but the response to the feelings can indicate the likelihood of whether someone will try to take his or her own life.
The three major signs are:
• Seeking ways of self harm, like searching
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
• Talking about death or suicide. If someone has engaged in bullying behavior, it may increase the chance of engaging in suicide-related behaviors. Most young people involved in bullying are not engaged in suicide-related actions but youth who report bullying behavior, either as the bully or as the victim, more frequently report suicide-related actions than youth who do not engage in bullying behaviors.
Other risk factors may include:
• Suicide in the family or local epidemics of suicide.
• Prior attempts at suicide.
• History of child maltreatment.
• Clinical depression or other mental disorders.
• Alcohol or other substance abuse.
• Hopelessness or feelings of isolation.
• Aggressive or impulsive tendencies.
• Physical illness.
• Inability to receive mental health treatment.
• Loss of relationship, work, finances or something else significant. A combination of individual, relationship, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of suicide. Risk factors are those characteristics associated with suicide — they might not be direct causes.
There are protective factors which may help ease and even stop someone from suicidal thoughts.
They include:
• Proper care of physical, mental, and substance abuse disorders
• Community and family support partnerships
• Access to clinical interventions
• Beliefs which discourage suicide and encourage self-care
• Ongoing medical and mental health care relationships
• Conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills
• Nonviolent ways to handle disputes During the pandemic, many people experience feelings of depression.
The best thing you can do for yourself and others is to build community connections and regularly check in with friends, family, co-workers or neighbors who may be struggling, physically or emotionally. Wolf has counseled people contemplating suicide, as well as family and friends of some who have attempted suicide. “When speaking with people of any age who might be suicidal, it’s critical to listen with compassion and without judgment, rather than jumping straight to advising or problem-solving,” she continued. “Never underestimate the simple power of active, supportive listening to build trust and rekindle an individual’s sense of hope.”
Wolf shared Vaya’s Access to Care line 1 (800) 849-6127 and the Hope4NC Helpline 1 (855) 587-3463, which are both available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a crisis. As part of National Suicide Awareness Month, Vaya Health will offer free virtual screenings of “Suicide: The Ripple Effect” for residents in Vaya’s 22-county catchment area. The film chronicles the story of Kevin Hines, who at age 19 attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Since then, Hines has been on a mission to use his story to help others find recovery. For more information, visit Vaya’s website: www. vayahealth.com/suicide-theripple-effect. Additional resources may be found at: www.suicideispreventable.org, www. stopbullying.gov: www.zerosuicide.sprc.org, www.thenationalactionallianceforsuicideprevention.org and www. suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Helpful information may also be found at: www.CDC. gov, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration-SAMHSA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health-NIH. In addition, the suicide prevention lifeline offers a 24-hour hotline for anyone having suicidal thoughts, as well as anyone trying to help someone who may be suicidal. They also have special services for veterans. Both are available at 1 (800) 273-8255. Many counselors recommend every individual add the number to their phone contacts for quick reference. It may be what helps you help save a life.