At October’s Senior Education Network meeting, Ms. Jenna Raymond, Licensed Social Worker for the Connections Mental Health & Substance Abuse Alliance in Fort Collins discussed suicide prevention.
The Connections team set a goal to train 100 senior service providers in 2019 in this evidence-based program about suicide prevention. The Question Persuade Refer (QPR) training program is designed to teach family members and professionals how to recognize when a person may be contemplating suicide and how to discuss it with them. QPR training includes learning about risk factors for suicide, how to detect warning signs and common causes. Students learn when to Question suicidal people, how to Persuade people to accept help and how to Refer people to resources.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Colorado consistently ranks in the top ten statesfor annual deaths by suicide, and in Larimer County a suicide occurs every 4-5 days. In 2016, 83 suicide deaths occurred in Larimer County, and over 45 thousand suicide deaths occurred in the U.S. The LBGTQ community has 4 times the risk of suicide over other population groups. Veterans with combat duty traditionally have a high risk of suicide from PTSD effects. However, any person with a major depressive disorder will commit suicide if help isn’t available.
The average age for suicides is 46 years. Nationally, older adults die by suicide at a higher rate than the national average. When older adults attempt suicide, they are more likely to succeed. Risk factors associated with older adults and suicide could include depression, social isolation, lack of a sense of purpose in life, illness and pain and family losses.
Most suicide attempts are preventable if the victim receives the necessary help from a friend, relative, or counselor. If a person indicates he is unhappy with life and wants to die, that person needs help ASAP! Several clues include previous suicide attempts, alcohol or drug abuse, stockpiling specific medications, putting their affairs in order, is depressed with hopelessness, giving away prized possessions, unexplained anger, irritability, and aggression, fired from a recent job or expelled from school, loss of relationships, fear of becoming a family burden, serious financial problems, and diagnosis of a serious or terminal disease are all possible signs of suicide.
As a friend or relative, it’s important to give hope to possible suicidal victims! Listening and communication is key to discussing their problems and feelings and encouraging them to seek professional help. It’s been proven by seeking professional help drastically reduces the risk of suicides and giving treatment for their mental health problems.
Asking them if they are contemplating suicide or having negative thoughts is key to understanding their feelings and behavior. There are two methods to asking your relative or friend about suicide. Using indirectly questions first: “Have you been unhappy lately?” or “Thinking about ending your life?” or “Don’t want to wake up?” Allow person to talk freely without interruptions! If person is reluctant, ask them to be honest and be persistent in getting them to talk.
Use the direct method if indirect doesn’t work, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” or “Are you depressed and considering suicide?” Thank the person for their honestly and let them know you care for their well being. However, do NOT ask them, “You’re not considering suicide, are you?” or “You wouldn’t do anything crazy, right?’ as these are shaming methods NOT useful in helping your friend or relative!
Friends and relatives can use these key steps to preventing suicide with potential victims: 1) Obtain a commitment to accept help by the victim and make arrangements to see a professional counselor, 2) take a person directly to a professional counselor for help, or 3) Give referral information on professionals with a commitment NOT to attempt suicide without seeking professional help. Be sure to provide transportation for the potential victim to a counselor for positive action.
References to several local and national professional metal health sources include:
Connection Alliance at 970-221-5551,
SummitStone Crisis Services at 970-494-4200 Ext 1,
Alliance for Suicide Prevention at 970-482-2309,
Colorado Crisis Line at 844-493-8255,
LGBTQ Crisis Hotline at 866-488-7386,
Veterans Crisis Line and National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255.
For youth aged 13 to 19 struggling with suicide, please contact Andy’s House at http://andyshouse.live/.
Worst case call 911 as they are trained for suicide prevention too.
Please visit the Connections website at www.healthdistrict.org/services/connections for more suicide prevention or other mental health information.