Intervening to prevent suicide

DAVID HULSE
Posted 8/21/12

HONESDALE, PA — Three volunteers appeared at the September 1 Wayne County Commissioners meeting to accept a proclamation naming September as Suicide Awareness Month in Wayne.

They also came …

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Intervening to prevent suicide

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HONESDALE, PA — Three volunteers appeared at the September 1 Wayne County Commissioners meeting to accept a proclamation naming September as Suicide Awareness Month in Wayne.

They also came to help publicize the September 10, “Share the Journey” regional suicide awareness, prevention and remembrance walk, taking place at 10 a.m., at the Wallenpaupack Area High School in Hawley.

Kathryn Wallace, president of the Northeastern PA Suicide Prevention Initiative (NPSPI), said the walk is the first in the area for the not-for-profit group, which is dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through collaboration, education and advocacy; and to reach out to people at risk and those impacted by suicide.

Suicide is the killer that no one wants to talk about. Nationally, a suicide occurs every 16 minutes, nearly twice the rate of homicide. It is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 34. Wallace speculated that the actual rate is probably higher, since reported car accidents, overdoses and accidental gun deaths can easily hide suicide.

The goal is to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness and suicide, which works against prevention by discouraging those at risk from seeking help, as well discouraging those who may see signs of suicide from intervening. “The hope is to spread the word that help is available. The hardest part is to get people to ask for help,” Wallace said.

Wallace emphasized the need to provide training to those people who might intervene. While the state requires teachers to get four hours training every five years, other school staff who interact with students get no training.

Commissioner Brian Smith also drives a school bus. He was struck by the discussion of school staff training, commenting, “There have been things on my bus that I didn’t understand.” Without detailing any outcome, he admitted, “I felt bad about it.”

Wallace said the medical community also should do more. She said “therapists are rarely trained in suicide response.”

Wayne Memorial Hospital hosts a support group for survivors, family and friends of the dead, but Bose admitted that no program exists for intervention with those at risk. “And that’s our biggest goal this year,” Wallace said, “groups for prevention. Who can they go to?”

“It’s going to be tough to get there, but there is certainly a need,” she said

Commissioner Wendell Kay is scheduled to speak at the upcoming walk. Recalling something he was told by an older relative, he said, ‘“It’s a permanent solution for a temporary problem.’ There are always other options available.”

Wallace said that despite the topic, the walk is an upbeat outing. For those there in memory of lost loved ones, “We celebrate lives, not the way they died,” she said. All donations raised will go toward programs and services in Wayne and Pike counties.

At the remembrance walk there will be speakers, poems, basket raffle and a Memory Wall. This is a pet-friendly and child-friendly event. The funds raised will stay in Wayne/Pike counties and will be used for programs such as training community clinicians and teachers on suicide assessment and management skills. There is no fee, but donations are appreciated. For more information and to register visit www.northeastsuicidepreventioninitiative.org or call 570/575-2343.

Hotline services are available 24/7, both nationally at 800/273-8255 and locally at 570/253-0321.

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