Suicide Prevention and Awareness
It seem as if the tragedies just keep piling up. Over the weekend, a student at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High school committed suicide. And last week, we were shocked by the suicide by a former student at MSD High School. The former student had a friend who was among the 17 people killed last year in the mass shooting and apparently had been living with survivor’s guilt. Suicide seems to follow tragedies like this. Today, we hear that the father of a mass-shooting victim at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 took his life.
Suicide does not solve the problem or ease the pain. It merely passes it on to others. Suicide does not discriminate and affects people from all walks of life. Race, gender, and socioeconomic status are factors but one is not more important than the other. Even with suicides by celebrities or people that we consider successful, no one is immune to the pain caused by suicide.
There are some warning signs to look for in someone who may be thinking about suicide. The person my exhibit one or more of these symptoms:
- Planning or talking about suicide or hurting themselves
- Mood swings that are erratic and expressing anger or rage
- Withdrawing from family and friends through isolation
- Anxiety, panic attacks, delusions
- Sleep patterns that are erratic
- Expressions that they are trapped and have no purpose in life
- Feeling like they can’t find a way out of their current situation
If you have a loved one or know of someone who you think is contemplating suicide, there are actions you can take to help them:
- Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves: Bringing the subject out into the open is the fastest way. Seek professional help as soon as you are able.
- Keep them safe: Remove all sharp objects or any items associated with how they planned to do it (if they tell you).
- Actively listen: Look at the person while they are speaking, and repeat back what they said so they know you were listening.
- Help them connect with support systems: Assist them by connecting them with a trained counselor on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Or have text the Crisis Text Line on 741741
- Conduct follow up with them: Periodically check in on that person even after the crisis has passed; if not in person, then by phone or text.
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