the untold story

 

If you follow the news, you may feel overwhelmed right now. I know I do. My heart aches for the victims of the recent school shootings and their families and friends. It’s an outrage to witness the cruel treatment of immigrant families at the most vulnerable time in their lives. I worry about climate change and environmental issues given the perversion of the EPA. And I cringe to think how close to nuclear war we may have come because of the impulsivity of a few corrupt and evil men. It’s a lot to think about. I’m scared. I’m angry. I’m sad. But mostly, I feel helpless. I think we all do.

“The good news is that

Jesus is coming back.

The bad news is that

He’s really pissed off.

~Bob Hope~

And now there’s this to think about: suicide. This past week we lost two renowned, respected, and seemingly successful souls to it. Even though they lived in the public spotlight, no one saw it coming. Even close family and friends were blind-sided by it so no one intervened to prevent it.

Now we will never hear their untold stories. We will never know what demons stalked them, what internal battles raged, what was missing in their lives…how they ended up on this path and followed it to the end.

“At any moment you have the power

to say this is not

how the story is going to end.”

~Christine Mason Miller~

The thing about suicide is that, unlike some of the other political, environmental, and humanitarian challenges we face, we can do something about it. Timely intervention can save lives. But first, you need to understand who is at risk. You need to know the warning signs that suggest someone is suicidal, and then be courageous enough to act. If you are worried about a potential suicide, say something. It has been shown over and over again that talking about suicide to a person who may be contemplating it does not trigger the suicide.

The warning signs of suicide are indicators that a person may be in acute danger and may urgently need help.

·                     Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself even in a casual or joking manner;

·                     Looking for a way to kill oneself even if it’s just an online search

·                     Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose; 
·                     Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain;

·                     Talking about being a burden to others;

·                     Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs; 
·                     Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless;
·                     Engaging in reckless or dangerous behaviors or activities;

·                     Sleeping too little or too much;

·                     Withdrawing or feeling isolated;

·                     Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge; and

·                     Displaying extreme mood swings.

(This list of Warning Signs for Suicide was developed by an expert review and consensus process that included SAVE’s Executive Director and was informed by a review of relevant research and literature.  Additional information about the warning signs can be found in the following published article: Rudd, M. D., Berman, A. L., Joiner, T. E., Jr., Nock, M. K., Silverman, M. M., Mandrusiak, M., et al. (2006). Warning signs for suicide: Theory, research, and clinical applications. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 36(3), 255-262.)

In some cases, an individual who has appeared to be depressed or agitated may suddenly seem unusually calm and relaxed. This may mean they have settled upon and are at peace with their decision to carry out their plan…not that they have decided against it.

You can learn more at https://save.org/about-suicide/warning-signs-risk-factors-protective-factors/

“If you want a happy ending,

that depends, of course,

on where you stop your story.”

~Orson Welles~

 jan