It's Closer Than Any of Us Wish to Believe
The statistics are really quite startling. Among 15 - 24 year olds, it is the third leading cause of death. For even younger children, aged 5 - 14, it is the sixth leading cause of death. According to the latest figures available, the age-adjusted death rate for this killer numbers 11 per 100,000 population. Based on statistics alone, this is a public health issue; but on a far more human level, the odds are that most of us will be touched by this problem. Annually, more than 30,000 will die, leaving nearly 200,000 survivors intimately affected by the loss.
Sadly, we are all too often surprised when this killer appears. Too often survivors are left to ask, "What if?" or "What could I have done?" When a family member, friend, neighbor, acquaintance or co-worker commits suicide, those left behind are besieged with more questions than answers. Fortunately, we can take affirmative steps to prevent suicide - and as with most disease processes, awareness, early detection and treatment are the keys.
South Brunswick resident Barbara Rubel is far more expert than I on this critical topic, and she has kindly agreed to provide some useful advice for all of us. I encourage you to read it, share it, and remember it.
Suicide: A Public Health
Problem
By Barbara Rubel
Every 17 minutes a person in the US
dies by suicide. For each of the 84 people who complete suicide every day, at
least six people are intimately affected. The family members and friends are
called suicide survivors. There are 504 suicide survivors each day. It is
important to know how you can help someone who is suicidal. First, take them
seriously. Don't be afraid to ask them if they are thinking about killing
themselves. Does the person have a plan and how lethal is that plan? Listen to
them as they share their story. Mental pain is just as painful as physical pain.
Be nonjudgmental. The suicidal person feels hopeless. Suicide ideation is a
complex issue. Do not offer them simple solutions, offer them hope. Telling them
that everything will be O.K. will not help them. But, you can emphasize that
their crisis is temporary and that there are alternatives to suicide. There are
trained professionals who can help them deal with their pain.
Knowing the early warning signs can help you be better prepared to help a person
in crisis. Most people who complete suicide have given warnings of their
suicidal intentions. Some of those risk factors include recently moving to a new
school, neglecting appearance, changes in sleeping habits, increasing substance
abuse and having a sexual identity conflict. Lesbian and gay youth are two to
three times more likely to complete suicide than heterosexual youth. Other
warning signs include feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness, experiencing
financial setbacks, having a history of suicidal behavior, a lack of meaningful
attachments and experiencing a recent loss. The suicidal person feels a loss of
control. They may have feelings of guilt and worthlessness and be pessimistic
about their future.
The late warning signs can include a sudden improvement in mood, anger, giving
away possessions, having a suicidal plan, taking risks, and being overly
self-critical. Stay with the person until you can arrange for support with a
therapist. If there is immediate risk, call 911. By identifying the risk
factors, developing the skills to manage a suicidal crisis, and possessing
knowledge of community resources you can prevent suicide.
In a report by the Surgeon General, titled Call to Action to Prevent Suicide,
Dr. Satcher maintains that suicide is a major public health problem that
requires a national strategy aimed at preventing suicide. Each community must
work to achieve this goal. The role of the caregiver in South Brunswick is an
important one and the importance of immediate crisis intervention is paramount.
Suicide impacts the community, our community. Family, educators, the health care
professional need a structured intervention strategy that helps them respond in
situations involving suicide. The C.R.I.S.I.S. Model serves the community as a
suicide awareness and prevention program. It serves as a prevention tool as
32,000 suicides occur annually in the US. It also benefits the 8 million suicide
survivors in the US.
We are all affected by the problem of suicide. Utilizing the C.R.I.S.I.S. Model
Caregivers Responding In Situations Involving Suicide, communities are given a
prevention strategy. Community helping professionals include law enforcement,
clergy, media, funeral directors, educators, local government, health care,
emergency and medical services, suicide survivor groups and the public. The
C.R.I.S.I.S. model is designed to provide a structured framework of
interventions that explore the fundamentals of suicide awareness and aftercare.
The model provides direction for the community to look at suicide as a health
problem. The model is based on education and training in preventing suicide and
healing in the aftermath of suicide. The outreach and support recommendations,
with a specific protocol for when to use these guidelines, should be reviewed
before a suicide to create an effective supportive network in the
community.
Editor's Note:
To find out more about suicide awareness and helping children in suicide's aftermath read, But I Didn't Say Goodbye: For parents and professionals helping child suicide survivors, by Barbara Rubel. This new book addresses the common problems encountered while helping child suicide survivors. To order But I Didn't Say Goodbye or to bring the C.R.I.S.I.S. Model to your community, contact the Griefwork Center, Inc. at 732-422-0400 or visit their website www.griefworkcenter.com