For women, the second most common method of committing suicide is self-poisoning including drug overdose. by talktobert
This week is Suicide Prevention Week. Kansas ranks 19th among the 50 states in completed suicides. Douglas County has a higher rate of suicide deaths than the national average. Taken from the Mental Health First Aid certification program, here is some vital information about suicide and what you can do if you recognize and help a person who is in crisis.
Facts about suicide
• Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States with one suicide occurring on average every 15.2 minutes.
• Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15- to 24-years-olds. The elderly make up 12.6% of the population, but comprise 15.7% of all suicides.
• Approximately 864,950 Americans attempt suicide each year. It is estimated that five million living Americans have attempted to kill themselves.
• Every year in the United States, more than 17,000 men and women kill themselves with a gun; two-thirds more than the number who use a gun to kill another person.
• An estimated 4.6 million Americans are survivors of the suicide of a friend, family member, or loved one.
Warning signs of suicide
- Threatening to hurt or kill oneself
- Seeking access to means
- Talking or writing about death, dying
or suicide
- Feeling hopeless, worthless or a lack
of purpose
- Acting recklessly or engaging in
risky activities
- Feeling trapped
- Increasing alcohol or drug use
- Withdrawing from family, friends or
society
- Giving away of personal possessions
or property
- Demonstrating rage and anger or
seeking revenge
- Not showering or shaving for days on
end
- Suddenly acting more aggressive than
usual
- Sleeping all the time
- Being unable or unwilling to eat
Want to know more? Read "Out of the darkness comes hope" by local resident, and suicide survivor, Mariah Riling.
What can you do?
If you encounter a person who appears suicidal, talking about suicide may be a way for the person to indicate just how bad he or she is feeling. There are two common myths surrounding talking about suicide:
- Asking about suicide will put the idea in the person’s mind.
- Someone who talks about suicide isn’t really serious.
If someone is having suicidal feelings, it is vital to check whether the person has definite intentions to take his or her life, or whether the person has been having more vague suicidal thoughts such as, “What’s the point of going on?” To find out, you need to ask questions.
Questions to ask
Ask the person directly whether he or she is suicidal:
- “Are you having thoughts of suicide?”
- “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
Ask the person whether he or she has a plan:
- “Have you decided how you are going to kill yourself?”
- “Have you decided when you would do it?”
- "Have you collected the things you need to carry out your plan?”
How to talk to a person who is suicidal
Discuss your observations with the person. Ask the question without dread. Do not express a negative judgment. Appear confident, as this can be reassuring. Check for two other risks:
- Has the person been using alcohol or other drugs?
- Has he or she made a suicide attempt in the past
How to help
- Let the person know you are concerned and are willing to help.
- Express empathy for what the person is going through.
- Encourage the person to do most of the talking.
- State that thoughts of suicide are often associated with a treatable mental health challenge.
- Tell the person that thoughts of suicide are common and do not have to be acted on.
DO NOT Leave an actively suicidal person alone or use guilt and threats to try to prevent suicide such as "You will go to hell" or "You will ruin other people's lives if you die by suicide."
Keeping the person safe
Provide a safety contact number that is available at all times:
- In Douglas County, call Headquarters Counseling Center: 785.841.2345
- National Hopeline Network: 1.800.SUICIDE
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.TALK
- Refer them to counselors, psychologists and social workers at the Bert Nash Center: 843-9192
Help the person think about people or things that have been supportive in the past and find out whether those supports are still available. If you would like to know more about suicide prevention and other mental health crisis situations and how you can save a life, please look into Mental Health First Aid classes.
Tagged: Bert Nash Center, Mental Health First Aid, Suicide, Headquarters Counseling Center
Comments
Marilyn_Hull (Marilyn Hull) says…
Thanks for the excellent post. It may save a life.
kbritt (Karrey Britt) says…
Great post with lots of information! Thanks Bert Nash!
jestevens (Jane Stevens) says…
Very important and useful information. Thanks for posting this, Lauren.
RonHolzwarth (Ron Holzwarth) says…
There is something rather important left out, and that is what to do if you find someone getting cold, his lips are blue, and he's not breathing from an overdose of pills and alcohol.
It might not be to late!
But it will be within a matter of only a few minutes if you don't act quickly, there is not a moment to lose!
I once found a former roommate in that situation, his body temperature was was cold and his lips were turning blue.
I immediately began applying chest pounds, I hate to admit this, but I knew exactly how to do it from watching television.
I will leave a good description of exactly how to do it for someone more educated that I.
But the basic idea is to first get the person onto a rather solid surface (a bed might not be firm enough), then put your hands together on the person's sternum (center of the chest) and quickly, to the beat of "Staying Alive", push in hard with a rhythmic beat, not so hard as to break bones, but as hard as you dare.
As soon as you get one gasp out of him, then you will have time to stop for only a second, but only long enough to call 911.
If the person stops breathing again, apply more chest pounds. You may have to do this intermittently until the ambulance gets there, I certainly had to that day.
I was told later that if I had discovered my roommate only five minutes later, there is not a single emergency room in the world that could have saved him.
Please educate yourself further than I was just able to, I just acted out what I had seen done on television.
The important thing is - it worked!
mommatocharlie (anonymous) replies…
What a memory to have! You sound like a compassionate individual. Thanks for saving a life.
jestevens (Jane Stevens) replies…
Thanks for this information and the compelling story, Ron. Your friend was very lucky to have you find him!
themiddlechild (mary smith) says…
Ron,
I am sure most people would agree that you saved your roommate's life, but perhaps your roommate really wanted to die and did not want to be saved.