Compelled to Comment: National Suicide Prevention Week (Part 1)

 "Shutdowns Spur Mental Health Crisis": "... a huge surge in depression, anxiety, and suicidality..." cites a psychologist specializing in stress and anxiety to a reporter (Epoch Times - August 6, 2020)                      "The job was making him (his father) suicidal..." (Colton, in my office July, 2017)                                      "...Sybil felt she had indeed come to the end of the line. She didn't want to live this way...she envisioned herself in the water, sinking. Death would bring her surcease..."  (from Sybil - May, 1974, experienced many years prior)                                                                                                                                          "We can all help prevent suicide" (Suicide Prevention Lifeline - September  3, 2020)                                " The gnawing conflict that had drawn her to the Hudson River and also away  from it..."(underlining mine) (from Sybil, in treatment, in early stages of recovery)

Suicide ranks as third cause of death for teens (CDC, 2020)                                                                        Suicide ranks as 10th cause of death in United States                                                                                    Highest suicide rate (deaths per 100,000) is in the age group from 45-64, and for males the highest rate is in the age group 65 and older, and significantly higher than women (a fact seldom mentioned by mainline media, whose attention is understandably focused on the tragic number of young people who actively contemplate and/or act on suicidal thoughts).

Not bummed out yet? Please read on...

       The reality of the ongoing pandemic and the awareness that this coincides with National Suicide Prevention Week in our country (with September 10th designated as World Suicide Prevention Day), along with my intimate experience with this subject, obliges me to comment. I do so with the important qualifying statement/disclaimer that even a three part series (perhaps four, if I can't compress it to this space) serves only to skim the surface on this critical subject. My intention, then, is to briefly share my own summary of the research (what we know and what we don't know), as well as 'effective' methodologies for intervention/prevention of people deliberately taking their own lives.

Part 2: "We should have known": Suicide and the 'Black Box'                                                                      Part 3:  Towards a Better Understanding and Prevention: 'Leaps of Faith'

One other disclaimer: this might not be a consecutive series, in order to allow you to cleanse your 'pandemic palate' (i.e.,  so I don't completely turn you off and lose you as a 'follower'). 

 

                                                                                                                     











 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New knews, in brief, from those in the know... On behalf of the unknowing. Also, for those immersed in religious observances, and the other “unwashed” (charitably “uniformed”)… In the briefest of moments, the temporary cease fire in the mid-east region of the world…giving new meaning to “temp”… Speaking of military and fronts, isn’t a knew twist to see a secretary of defense be put in the defensive due to his error raid signals that he has been putting out there at high frequencies… And another foreign service server informs us that plenty of add Vance notice was given in order for JD not look too conspicuous, given his mixed religious observances in his own home, to first visit the home of the pope to be followed by a fly bye to India, where he will just by convenience extend a hello to his wife's extended family (whereas her parents are professors in residence in San Diego --  talk about all knowing😔 -- all on what could soon be our “last dime”, given the thinning of minting out...
Read more
Making History, one way or another... "Let's make history..." Said one truant to the other..."we can still make it, as our teacher tends to go off..." OR, is it... "Let's skip the whole thing, all-together,..." As "There's nothing knew here...we all know how this is going to turn out...doesn't really matter...may as well stay home..." "On the brink, I think..." OR, is it... Brink, sure could use a… One more tally, still time for late night rally… A rising wave...of cynicism... Name, blame calling... "It's the e-conomy, stupid!"  Or, is it "The stupid economy that cost me..." Either/OR... My own humble hope… while we find ourselves... In the midst of…while still too close to call… A post and a toast... To one, to all...you and U.S.... Having lived through... Or, in some cases, slept through... Lessons in History... having endured... "Too close for comfort" AKA, OR, "keep your distanc...
Read more
  "King David, where art Thou?" Here and Now: When I need and you most...for a quote, a tip, let alone a quip... Clever crafted commentary: At his best, in his field, "In my humble opinion..."  "Coming to you tonight..." Each and every night, assuming we welcomed him with his partner, known in our home, as simply "Chet" when we referred to him on his own, but more formally when paired with "David" as the "Huntley-Brinkley" reporting team... Distinctly Brinkley: who got called on whenever things around here, US, were on the brink... "Sow, David..." It's how I heard it, and still remember it, as he was asked to comment, well into the eve of what was casted to be his final telecast of this type, on the eve of a second coming...of the Clintons, their return to the White House...a second (merry) go round... "For the love of Mike!" While he was not shy of the microphone, having gotten used to one on his desk ...
Read more