Using every tool available to fight mental health crisis
Vashon-Maury Island BeachcomberSep 05, 2020
Listening to phone messages that morning before heading to the hospital to see patients, the first was from a police officer. The second message was my sister. Cameron was dead by suicide.
Cameron was my 17-year-old nephew. He melted audiences with his singing and acting. He was a practical joker and a gifted baseball player, beloved by schoolmates befriending the timid and bullied. Cameron died just after starting his Junior year of high school. His forever decision was on the first day of National Suicide Prevention Week, 2013.
National Suicide Prevention Week begins this year on
- We will be six months into the COVID-19 pandemic and national economic collapse.
- The dark days of fall and winter will be upon us with more social distancing and isolation.
- More uncertainties about school and child care.
- Sports seasons canceled.
- People out of work, unable to pay rent, hungry and homeless.
- "Twindemic": Influenza and new COVID-19 waves on the way.
- The election with the future of our American democracy in the balance.
- Rising COVID-19 infections and death tolls.
Are we as a nation prepared to prevent an increase in suicide? We are already seeing increases in leading risk factors: depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol use, domestic violence and child abuse.
Building blocks for coordinating COVID-19 mental health campaigns already exist in many communities: agency staff, mental health professionals and social workers, school counselors and nurses, the nation's 839 volunteer
Using these building blocks, governors and tribal leaders can construct mental health campaigns. Our hope is that the
We also need governors to work with each other in coordinating state resources across political boundaries and ideology.
We don't have time for "reinventing wheels." Island residents may already know about the Vashon MRC's COVID-19 testing effort. The Vashon MRC's Community Care Team has created a crisis helpline and online support groups facilitated by volunteer mental health professionals and spiritual leaders. Our CCT has developed a web-based mental health toolkit available to at-risk communities.
In response to the ongoing pandemic, Vashon's Community Care Team, a unit of the
With the coming mental health crisis, we are fortunate that our island community has talent, resources, and commitment. Many at-risk communities don't. Off-island communities less fortunate will continue benefiting from Vashon MRC's COVID-19 testing and mental-health toolkits and strategies. While we do what we can, we also look to state and tribal leaders to fill the
One action you can take right now: contact
The key message?
Finally, if you are struggling, or thinking of harming yourself, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text HEAL to 741-741. We are all in this together. We are neighbors helping neighbors. We need to help each other through this crisis.