The Nuturing Well by: Jill Starbuck
Recently, headlines shocked millions of people by announcing the death of Robin Williams. Perhaps most startling is the way he died. Suicide forces those left behind to deal with complex emotions, including confusion, anger, sadness, and guilt. Suicide grief can last for years with no resolution. Suicide has long been treated as the “elephant in the room.” However, with a steady increase in suicide incidence rates over the last decade, it’s time we talk about the issue and work harder to prevent it. Suicide now ranks as the tenth leading cause of death.
In 2011 nearly 40,000 people committed suicide, more than the number of people killed in motor vehicle accidents each year. While this number is astounding, what’s even more sobering is the amount of people who consider suicide. In a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), more than 8 million people reported suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, nearly 500,000 people land at a hospital due to self-inflicted injuries. With such vast numbers, suicide is becoming too common. Almost like cancer, chances continue to increase that you will know of someone who committed suicide or who has been affected by a suicide.
So what can we do about it?
1. Educate yourself. By educating ourselves, we can learn to look for the signs of imminent suicide. Try the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at www.afsp.org, the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org, the International Association for Suicide Prevention at www.isap.info, or the American Association of Suicidology at www.suicidology.org.
2. Reach out. By paying attention and noticing suicidal tendencies, we can reach out much sooner to help prevent the death of a loved one. Sometimes the simplest act of kindness will prevent a suicidal thought from becoming a reality.
3. Raise awareness. One of the easiest ways to raise awareness is to participate in a fundraiser. For instance, Fort Wayne will host an Out of the Darkness walk on September 6 at Headwaters Park. These walks happen throughout the year in various cities. To find one near you, go to www.afsp.org. Funding for suicide research falls far behind other illnesses such as cancer and HIV, yet the incidence rates are expected to continue to rise.
4. Talk about it. If you’ve been personally affected by a suicide or would like to learn more from those affected, check out Survivors of Loved Ones to Suicide (SOLOS) on Facebook or other support groups that help with the grieving process. If you personally have suicidal tendencies or find yourself trying to help someone threatening suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 for help.
5. Join the campaign. Did you know that there is a National Suicide Prevention Week (September 8-14 this year) surrounding World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10)? Many states and health professionals provide special activities during this week.
Suicide is a preventable situation. You can help by raising awareness and talking about this real issue.
Jill Starbuck has 20 years of experience as a business writer, editor, and market research analyst. She is a certified health coach through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America. She is also the co-owner of a running business. She can be reached at jillstarbuck@hotmail.com.
