As we come to the end of September, we also are coming to the end of suicide prevention awareness month. However, this is something that we should continue to be aware of. Suicide remains heavily on the hearts of those who have lost loved ones, as well as on those people who are contemplating the taking of their own lives.
According to SAMHSA, the suicide warning signs can look different for both adults and children. However, the outcomes are the same for them both when a suicide is carried out: DEATH. What does a suicidal person look like? I’m of the belief that it can be anyone of us. Life is meant to be lived. But sometimes, it is simply too hard to continue, and people may feel that the decision of committing suicide is the only one left to be made. The thought of having to go through another tomorrow may be too heavy of a burden to handle for many of us. Resources to help prevent suicide include but are not limited to the following: The Effective Suicide Prevention Model, Best Practices Registry (BPR), and the Zero Suicide Framework: A Safer Approach. SAMHSA also suggests the following:
“If you believe someone may be in danger of suicide:
- Call 911, if danger for self-harm seems imminent.
- Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to talk to a caring professional.
- Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves. This will not put the idea into their head or make it more likely that they will attempt suicide.
- Listen without judging and show you care.
- Stay with the person or make sure the person is in a private, secure place with another caring person until you can get further help.
- Remove any objects that could be used in a suicide attempt” (https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicidal-behavior/prevention)
Here in the U.S. Virgin Islands, we have lost loved ones, friends and family members to suicide. This happens here, as it does everywhere else, and we can no longer ignore or deny the fact that it does. Together we can all help by being aware of the signs, to lower the chances of this happening. We are all imperfect people living in an imperfect world, and tragedies do and will happen. But the time is now, for mental health counseling to become more normalized in our community, both in accessibility and in attending to our own mental health as though our lives are depending on it, because it is.
Natalie J. Lewis is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She is licensed in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Georgia and Virginia. She is a proud graduate of St. Croix Central High School “The Classic Class” (Go Caribs) and Nova Southeastern University (Go Sharks).
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