Virtual Suicide Prevention presentation, “Talk Saves Lives”, gives ways that anyone can raise awareness

Virtual Suicide Prevention presentation, “Talk Saves Lives”, gives ways that anyone can raise awareness

Contributing Writer: Anna Dean

A virtual Zoom presentation from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention took place at 1 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2020. Youth Intervention Specialist, Austin Richardson, who works with Prevent Suicide W. Va., hosted the meeting and Abby Baker, Peer Recovery Specialist, moderated the meeting.

The presentation covered the complex topics of suicide awareness, the stigmas against mental health topics, and how to spot the signs of someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings. Richardson wants to build a community that is more aware of suicide prevention and to educate people on how to respond. “Suicide is a complex health issue,” Richardson said, as the meeting started. There is a stigma against mental health and those who experience suicidal thoughts, so it is important to be careful about how it is mentioned. Phrases such as “died by suicide” or “ended their life” are more appropriate to use.

The meeting covered how our culture needs to adapt to make mental health more widely accepted, while breaking down the stigmas that surround it. A large concern in WV is that only two in five people will seek the help that they need. An even larger concern is that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the state.

These statistics are concerning therefore, it is important to know what a person experiencing these feelings might be going through. There is not one simple cause, but multiple factors that can contribute to risk such as — physical and mental health conditions, environmental factors, or other life factors

“Perspective always matters,” Richardson said. He then opened up the meeting to ask participants about what stressors could be in a person’s environment. The stressors of past trauma, family history, and the stigma against getting help were brought up. Other risk factors that people might not see are depression, work-related stress, or impulsive actions.

Research is helpful for those with suicidal thoughts. Research includes medications, biomarkers, and breakthrough psychotherapies that are progressing every day. To educate oneself, one must be aware of the stigma surrounding this topic. Being proactive towards mental health can be helpful for anyone facing a point of crisis.

“It’s just a conversation with somebody,” Richardson said. Then, he described the ways someone can reach out to help a person who is having suicidal thoughts. Time is the most important factor that can be put between a person and their thoughts about ending their life.

Ways to provide help would be to have a conversation, offer support, and watch the person’s moods and behavior. Avoid arguments or the minimization of their experiences. Do not try to fix the problem. If it comes to a dangerous situation, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255).

There are programs and resources available that promote mental health and suicide awareness. Prevent Suicide WV offers resources on the topic of suicidal awareness and how to help others in need. Headspace is a useful app that provides help with meditation and sleep. MY3 is another resourceful app that is available for those who are dealing with suicidal thoughts.

“Be aware that there is a stigma and to break the stigma would be a good pre-cursor,” Richardson said.

A culture that is aware of mental health and suicide prevention can be created by breaking the stigma and becoming knowledgeable on these topics.

For more information or help, please reach out to West Liberty’s on campus counselor, Lisa Witzberger at lwitzberger@ westliberty.edu.

Photo Credits: Google Images under Creative Commons License