SPECIAL REPORT: Addressing the challenges of suicide prevention
The Patriot LedgerJul 09, 2018
Mental health has always been a difficult and slightly ambiguous topic to cover, as it looks different and can have different causes from case to case. But suicide prevention is, in many ways, difficult because it is not always connected to mental illness. According to the
"It has such a stigma, just like mental illness, and the two often coincide," said
Babcock's organization, one of 10 state coalitions in
"We try and get involved with anything in the community just so that we can get the info out there," Babcock said.
In
Nationwide suicide rates, meanwhile, increased 30 percent during the same period, and it's likely the numbers are understated. Absent specific evidence, such as a note describing one's intentions, determining suicide deaths can be tricky for medical examiners. Additionally, many believe a portion of fatal overdoses happen on purpose, but are not counted as suicides. In
Massachusetts Suicide Information
"We think probably between 25 to 40 percent of drug overdoses may be suicides, but it's hard to quantify," said the Rev.
According to an extensive report published in March by The Patriot Ledger,
Suicide rates have increased in nearly every state from 1999 through 2016.
The upward trend is clear; less clear is why it's happening.
The programs involve adjustment counseling for incoming freshman students that carries over to their health class curriculum, as well as "Signs of Suicide Prevention", a program which screens each student for signs of depression and suicidal thoughts. Thanks to this program, the school has been able to refer students and families to counseling both through the school or a local mental health professional if more action is needed.
"The Signs of Suicide program is a big deal because pretty much every kid is getting screened for depression or suicidal thoughts," Harrison said. "It's important because sometimes kids don't understand the depth of depression and don't know how to ask for help."
He said that while two years is a small amount of time to see results, he has noticed a shift in atmosphere at
"I think we're very lucky in
Contributing to the uncertainty surrounding suicides and suicide prevention is widespread disagreement about how it should be discussed. Historically, suicides haven't been discussed much in public, which many argue perpetuates the issue. Nonetheless, talking too much about suicide, or glorifying it, can result in an uptick in suicides.
The latter is known as "suicide contagion," which is often raised as a concern when there are a string of similar suicides. Last year, a Wicked Local report showed a surge in the number of suicides and accidental deaths on
Babcock said that when talking about suicide it's important to do it in the right way, so as to get to word out but also be sensitive to families and friends who have been affected, and to be mindful of this "suicide contagion."
Similarly, when well-liked public figures and celebrities kill themselves, including the recent deaths of international superstar DJ Avicii, famed designer
The media can often times give suicide the wrong kind of attention with specific details that romanticize the tragedy of an event like suicide, Babcock said.
"Take
Babcock said that in the wake of the recent deaths reported in the media, she hopes people are more motivated to work toward a decline in suicides in coming years and decades.
"I do think the trainings we're doing have definitely increased and had an effect," she said. "There is a need and there is more of a demand now than ever that we're able to keep meeting. Working with the police departments has also helped us bring the community together about this."
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