MONROE - Everyday we see commercials and campaigns in media, which are intended to protect the public from deadly diseases, harmful habits, violence and abuse. These commercials and campaigns target mostly the younger American population, which is vulnerable to some of these issues, in view of the sensitive developmental transition periods in adolescence. The issues focused on by the media and the communities today are very significant; however, one critical topic has yet to get the attention that it deserves. It is "Suicide Prevention." Today more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined (HOPES, 2007).
To those who are reasonably showing lots of effort to protect American youth from outside sources of danger, it may be unexpected to hear that 668 people died by suicide in the state of Wisconsin in 2006 when only 194 people died by homicide (HOPES, 2007). According to HOPES, (2007) each suicide death is estimated to affect at least six other people, including family, school, workplace or community. This means over 4008 people were affected by a suicide death in Wisconsin in 2004. This does not include friends, co-workers and classmates.
Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, states that the efforts for suicide prevention seem unhurried (HOPES, 2007).
The No. 1 cause of suicide is untreated depression (MHA, 2007). Most people who are depressed do not complete suicide, but depression increases the risk (MHA, 2007). According to HOPES (2007), the symptoms of clinical depression are as follows, and a person experiencing any of the symptoms below for two or more weeks should see a mental heath care professional immediately.
• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, pessimism or worthlessness
• Substance abuse
• Fatigue or loss of interest in ordinary activities
• Disturbances in eating and sleeping patterns
• Irritability, increased crying, anxiety and panic attacks
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Thoughts of suicide; suicide plans or attempts
• Persistent physical symptoms or pains that do not respond to treatment
The risk factors and warning signs of suicide are as follows and a person who is suicidal urgently needs to see a doctor or a psychiatrist.
• Talking about suicide, preoccupation with death
• Statements about hopelessness, helplessness or worthlessness; lack of interest in the future
• Suddenly happier, calmer (may have decided on suicide)
• Making arrangements; setting one's affairs in order, unusual visiting or calling people one cares about, giving things away.
• Acquiring guns or stockpiling pills (access to lethal means)
• Risk taking behaviors
• Withdrawal from family, friends or social supports
• Previous suicide attempts (by self or others close to them)
• Recent losses (physical, financial, personal)
• Untreated mental illness
• Purposelessness
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Mood changes
• Impulsiveness
• Substance use/abuse
The good news is suicide is preventable. Ninety percent of the people who die by suicide have a treatable mental illness, such as depression or a substance abuse disorder or both (HOPES, 2007). The suicide rate may be reduced by educating public on mental illness, depression and suicide.
Fortunately, there are organizations and people working hard on suicide prevention both nationally, statewide and locally. Among those is Mental Health America of Wisconsin, which received the Garrett Lee Smith Grant-a bill that was passed for youth suicide prevention programs. Under the grant, Mental Health America of Wisconsin (MHA) put out a request for RFP's to communities and schools within Wisconsin (MHA, 2007). MHA of Wisconsin selected nine sub-grantees and offered funding, support, and training to the sites in youth suicide prevention (MHA, 2007). Green County is one of the sub-grantees in Wisconsin. Youth Suicide Prevention Program of Green County is a member of GUPPY (Green County United Prevention professionals for Youth) coalition and has a local coordinator who manages the suicide prevention tasks with the leadership of GUPPY's suicide prevention sub-committee.
To those who are reasonably showing lots of effort to protect American youth from outside sources of danger, it may be unexpected to hear that 668 people died by suicide in the state of Wisconsin in 2006 when only 194 people died by homicide (HOPES, 2007). According to HOPES, (2007) each suicide death is estimated to affect at least six other people, including family, school, workplace or community. This means over 4008 people were affected by a suicide death in Wisconsin in 2004. This does not include friends, co-workers and classmates.
Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, states that the efforts for suicide prevention seem unhurried (HOPES, 2007).
The No. 1 cause of suicide is untreated depression (MHA, 2007). Most people who are depressed do not complete suicide, but depression increases the risk (MHA, 2007). According to HOPES (2007), the symptoms of clinical depression are as follows, and a person experiencing any of the symptoms below for two or more weeks should see a mental heath care professional immediately.
• Persistent sad or "empty" mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, pessimism or worthlessness
• Substance abuse
• Fatigue or loss of interest in ordinary activities
• Disturbances in eating and sleeping patterns
• Irritability, increased crying, anxiety and panic attacks
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Thoughts of suicide; suicide plans or attempts
• Persistent physical symptoms or pains that do not respond to treatment
The risk factors and warning signs of suicide are as follows and a person who is suicidal urgently needs to see a doctor or a psychiatrist.
• Talking about suicide, preoccupation with death
• Statements about hopelessness, helplessness or worthlessness; lack of interest in the future
• Suddenly happier, calmer (may have decided on suicide)
• Making arrangements; setting one's affairs in order, unusual visiting or calling people one cares about, giving things away.
• Acquiring guns or stockpiling pills (access to lethal means)
• Risk taking behaviors
• Withdrawal from family, friends or social supports
• Previous suicide attempts (by self or others close to them)
• Recent losses (physical, financial, personal)
• Untreated mental illness
• Purposelessness
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Mood changes
• Impulsiveness
• Substance use/abuse
The good news is suicide is preventable. Ninety percent of the people who die by suicide have a treatable mental illness, such as depression or a substance abuse disorder or both (HOPES, 2007). The suicide rate may be reduced by educating public on mental illness, depression and suicide.
Fortunately, there are organizations and people working hard on suicide prevention both nationally, statewide and locally. Among those is Mental Health America of Wisconsin, which received the Garrett Lee Smith Grant-a bill that was passed for youth suicide prevention programs. Under the grant, Mental Health America of Wisconsin (MHA) put out a request for RFP's to communities and schools within Wisconsin (MHA, 2007). MHA of Wisconsin selected nine sub-grantees and offered funding, support, and training to the sites in youth suicide prevention (MHA, 2007). Green County is one of the sub-grantees in Wisconsin. Youth Suicide Prevention Program of Green County is a member of GUPPY (Green County United Prevention professionals for Youth) coalition and has a local coordinator who manages the suicide prevention tasks with the leadership of GUPPY's suicide prevention sub-committee.
