Bringing the topic of suicide out of the shroud of darkness into the light of education, communication, community and faith can avert such tragic loss of life, say counselors who work with people in crisis situations.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Center of Disease Control. In recognition of September being National Suicide Prevention Month, a suicide prevention training will be held, Sept. 25 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., at the Kleinpeter Center at St. George Church in Baton Rouge. The training will help people recognize the signs that someone is at risk of taking their lives, and the steps they can take to help the person in crisis.
When people hear the probable reasons why someone took their life, common comments include “I got divorced,” “I have a serious medical condition” or “I lost my job but I picked things up from there.”
People are even hesitant to address suicide directly, according to Sherrard Crespo LMSW, who works in the area of suicide prevention, education, intervention and postvention.
But suicide is “not just an event,” it’s like a chronic illness that affects the brain and leads to a cognitive disorder,” Crespo said. “Feelings of helplessness, isolation and an inability to overcome a situation can impact a person to the point these thoughts of suicide progress to ideation, then the ending of life.
“It’s (suicide) is not deliberate, a logical action taken against themselves for the purpose of hurting (anyone). But it still causes death.”
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or if you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
Most people have thoughts to some degree at some point in their life about not wanting to wake up the next day or that they were better off dead, Crespo said. Those who commit suicide tend to internalize those thoughts, thinking “that’s bad” and they are the only one who has such thoughts.
Crespo said those individuals tend to isolate themselves because they don’t want people to think “I’m weird.” Because of the ensuing cognitive disorder, the part of the brain that understands mortality and the repercussions of making such a decision doesn’t get the energy it needs.
The common question that arises is “Didn’t the person think about the loved ones that they would be leaving behind?”
“The two biggest risk factors associated with suicide or the other cognitive disorder distortions is the perceived feeling that you’re a burden on other people around you or you don’t contribute anything to other people,” said Crespo. “They even think that others will be better off without them.”
Christopher Verlado, licensed counselor and St. George parishioner, said suicide “has no prejudices” regarding race, gender, socioeconomic background, etc.
Because of COVID-19, everyone was likely isolated at home for varying lengths of time, and there remains the social distancing requirements. Compound that with the destruction and power outages caused by Hurricane Ida, and people without electricity, Verlado said he spoke with people who felt like “they were in a very dark place” psychologically and emotionally. Many did not have phone or cell service so there was a lack of communication, no one to keep in touch with them or even touch.
It’s a distressing situation, Verlado concedes. That’s when some individuals might try to self-medicate themselves through such things as drugs or alcohol, which only exacerbates the problem.
But whatever the trial, the brain functions that would shut off such negative flow of thoughts shut down in those who take their lives. They don’t know what to do and they are in a great amount of pain, and can only think “I can’t take it anymore.”
Verlado said they see the only way of stopping the pain is to terminate their lives.
Crespo and Verlado said through education people can be trained to “head off the tragedy” of a loved one committing suicide. And it involves talking about it directly and honestly with the person and “letting the person get things off their chest.”
Among the points that are scheduled to be covered at the St. George training are listening skills and their purposes in de-escalation; the difference between suicide ideation and suicide attempt (which often are more than once before a person does); facilitating conversation; and developing a safety plan.
There is a light of hope on the topic of suicide in that some receive the help they need and lead healthy, productive lives and even build a sense of community.
“I know that suicide seems scary, but the more we actually learn about it, the more we realize this is the way so many people are living, and it’s our responsibility as compassionate people to allow someone to have hope to have a connection,” said Crespo. “And that comes from breaking down the stigma surrounding suicide.”
And faith plays a big role in that.
Verlado asked one man to imagine himself in the palm of Jesus’ hands and that Jesus is bringing him close to his heart and praying with him. As the man started opening his hand after the exercise he saw a light he had not seen before.
“Life is worth it and knowing that is very powerful,” said Verlado.
The training is free, but participants are asked to register at signupgenius.com/go/
805054EAEAF2FA46-suicide1.
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or if you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.