The social #isolation, financial hardships, reduced access to certain types of medical care and overall #stress wrought by the #COVID-19 #pandemic has also had the effect of putting people with #mentalhealthproblems at greater risk of #suicide. A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association questioned whether it may not represent a “perfect storm” for #suicide mortality that could last for many months, perhaps even years to come.
The daily news coverage of virus-related deaths, the joblessness, the loss of community and religious contact, the barriers to in-person #mentalhealthcare, all could push many who may already be prone to suicidal thoughts to act upon them. And with #suicide already the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States (the rate having risen by more than one-third over the last two decades), this could prove another deadly branch of the outbreak.
What should people do to ensure the welfare of those around you who may be at risk of #suicide? Who might, for example, display worrisome behavior such as talking or writing about taking their own lives or about death generally, who may be drinking more or doing drugs, seem moody, anxious, angry or depressed? The first step is, of course, to reach out to that person and listen to their concerns, encourage them to see a #mentalhealthcare provider, or, at minimum, get them to contact the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255) for free and confidential emotional support 24/7. There is also a Crisis Text Line available by texting “HOME” or “Start” to 741741.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Yet there is one more thing a friend, family member or colleague might do for someone at risk of #suicide: Encourage that person not to own a gun. Or perhaps ask them to surrender a gun that might be in their possession. Over half of the nation’s suicides (more than 47,000 each year) involve the use of a firearm, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report. It is one of the most seriously misunderstood risks of gun ownership: The majority of gun-related deaths in this country are the result of #suicide, not homicide. In other words, gun ownership is far more likely to result in the death of oneself or a loved one than in the death of another, potential home invaders, assailants and murderers included.
Those facts were confirmed in a study published just last week in the New England Journal of Medicine that looked specifically at handgun ownership among tens of millions of California residents. Not only did handgun ownership substantially raise the risk of #suicide by firearm, it raised the risk of #suicide by other methods, too. This was true for both #men and #women and it was true not just for recent purchasers but for those who bought their gun a year or more earlier. What makes the gun especially problematic is its lethality: those who try to kill themselves by other means are usually less likely to succeed.
This is why Maryland must continue down the path of seeking to reduce gun violence and self-harm. We were encouraged this week by Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman’s pledge to pursue reforms endorsed by his task force on gun violence prevention treating the issue as what it is, a public health crisis. That task force is rooted in the murders of our colleagues, five Capital-Gazette employees two summers ago in Annapolis. Last Friday, its members offered some excellent ideas including expanding the state’s “red flag” law that enables court-ordered confiscation of guns and greater licensing and background checks. How much can be accomplished at the county level may be limited but the political significance of the campaign is not: Maryland ought to be a national leader in the quest for gun safety.
Given how Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has held a relatively firm hand on #COVID-19-related restrictions in the name of public health, his decision last month to veto legislation that would have required background checks on private sales and transfers of rifles and shotguns seems especially egregious. After all, the proposal did not prevent Marylanders from owning long guns but only required that purchasers be subject to the same kind of background check that handgun buyers already face.
Lawmakers would be wise to override that veto at their earliest convenience. The more guns in circulation, the greater the risk of #suicide. The data is inescapable and all the more worrisome as the #pandemic continues as does its negative impact on #mentalhealth.
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:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
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
