Being educated about suicide can help you be more supportive for your loved ones.
Editor’s Note: Help is available if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters. In the US: Call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Globally: The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide have contact information for crisis centers around the world. CNN —
On top of that, 13.2 million people seriously considered suicide, 3.8 million planned it and 1.6 million attempted suicide.
Though rates among 10- to 24-year-olds in the US have declined, these stats are a glaring reminder that “the silent epidemic of suicide” isn’t over, said Dr. Mitch Prinstein, chief science officer at the American Psychological Association.
The nation “still has some of the highest rates of suicidal attempts in the developed world, and the number of suicides, at least half using firearms, is still remarkably high,” Prinstein, the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said via email.
That’s why this National Suicide Prevention Month and always, being informed about suicide and knowing that you don’t need to be a mental health provider to lower your risk of suicide or support your loved ones is as important as ever, said Dr. Justin Baker, clinical director of the Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative for Veterans, or STRIVE, at the Ohio State University.
Globally, more than 720,000 people die by suicide yearly, and it’s the third leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds.
That means parents need to have the “suicide talk” with their teens just like they have conversations about sex and drugs, Prinstein said.
“There are simple, proven steps everyone can take to lower their risk and the risk of family and friends from dying by suicide,” Baker, also assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at the Ohio State University, said via email.
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Mental health professionals and researchers still haven’t nailed down how to totally predict with certainty who’s at risk for attempting suicide, and whether or when vulnerable people will do it, experts said.
That’s because stressors that could lead to suicide for some people don’t have the same impact on others. Also, there isn’t always a long time frame during which someone is suicidal and acting in ways that signal the need for help.
But there are some situations in which someone who’s suicidal and planning for a longer period will show behavioral or emotional changes. Those changes, as well as other risk factors, can include the following:
? Unusual behavior with potentially lethal items such as firearms or pills
2. Not everyone who attempts suicide has a mental health condition
One of many common myths about suicide is that only people with mental health conditions have suicidal thoughts or attempt suicide.
That’s not always true. Many people who attempt or die by suicide don’t fit criteria for mental health disorders, clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Roeske told CNN in a previous story — rather, they likely don’t see a way to live with an incredibly stressful situation such as loss of a job, home or loved one; infidelity; trauma; legal matters; a debilitating illness; or other crises.
3. There are ways you can help
If your loved one seems to be at risk of suicide, be supportive and intentional about asking them what’s going on, experts said. They recommend a narrative, person-centered approach — such as asking an open-ended question like, “Hey, I’ve noticed life’s gotten overwhelming these past couple days. Do you want to tell me about it?”
Listen, express appreciation for their openness and offer to help figure it out together, without giving unsolicited advice or encouragement about all the wonderful reasons they should stay alive — sometimes that can make them feel lonelier. But if your loved one seems more urgently at risk or in the process of attempting suicide, get medical care or call 911. You can also call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to speak with trained counselors who can help you or someone you know work through suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
If you’re the one struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek professional help and talk with someone you trust. Therapy and certain psychiatric medications, such as antidepressants, can also help.
Additionally, “developing a crisis response plan, a plan people make to identify coping strategies they can use in a crisis, can significantly reduce the risk of a suicide attempt,” Baker said.
4. People who attempt suicide aren’t selfish
Some people think suicide is selfish, but this characterization is misguided and derogatory, experts said, since people who attempt or die by suicide often desire to end their pain or see themselves as burdensome. Many don’t see any other choice.
Therefore, “nearsighted” may be a better term since their focus becomes limited to what’s immediately in front of them, rendering them unable to see the bigger picture of their past, present and future, Roeske said.
5. How you talk about suicide matters
Not treating the topic of suicide as the elephant in the room is an important step in reducing the stigma that keeps some people from getting help. But what you say and how you say it also matter.
That’s why many mental health experts, medical institutions, media and more have moved away from saying certain harmful phrases — including “committed suicide,” which implies criminality and can cast a moral judgment, Dr. Jacek Debiec, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, told CNN in a previous story.
Describing a suicide attempt as “successful” is also problematic, as taking one’s life is not a positive achievement. “Failed suicide attempt” can suggest that surviving isn’t the best outcome or that there’s something lacking in the character or willpower of the attempter. Given these factors, when referring to suicide, appropriate language includes “died by suicide,” “fatal suicide attempt,” “killed herself” or “took his own life,” experts said.
Acceptable shorthand ways to communicate not dying from an attempt include “nonfatal suicide attempt” or simply “suicide attempt.”
Using more compassionate language to discuss suicide can also improve empathy and strategies for reducing suicide risk, experts said.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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