by Steven Sanchez
Suicide amongst Americans has become an epidemic in this country. The statistics of those taking their own lives is staggering. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on average, there are 129 suicides per day; in 2017, firearms accounted for 50.57% of all suicide deaths. Based on research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. for all ages, there is one death by suicide in the U.S. every twelve minutes, and suicide takes the lives of over 44,965 Americans every year.
by Maricela Estrada-Moreno
My mother told me she lost track of how many times I tried killing myself. The truth is so have I. It wasn’t until my last suicide attempt that I had a broad awakening. I actually almost died by an overdose. It is by God’s grace that I survived it. I overdosed on all my medication. My roommate did not realize what I did the night before and didn’t call 911 until the morning when she was getting ready for work.
by Noah Whitaker
I’ve worked in the field of suicide prevention for nearly a decade. In that time I have seen and experienced a lot of interesting things. National Suicide Prevention Week, which falls September 10-16, 2017, is a perfect time to reflect upon some of the changes and advancements, as well as looking forward to the future.
by Noah Whitaker
May is Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM). This is a chance to learn about signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and help fight stigma that keeps people from receiving vital care. This month’s column won’t focus directly on MHAM, but upon a recent challenge in the mental health field, the Netflix Original series 13 Reasons Why, which since its release has generated a lot of buzz, especially from mental health and suicide prevention organizations.
by Noah Whitaker
Our last article explored bringing folks to the table to address suicide, or who. We’ll now assume you’ve at least rounded up a few interested folks. If you don’t have a large and diverse group, don’t worry, you can work on that over time. This is a process of continually developing new partnerships, inviting new people and organizations to the table, and constantly improving and strengthening your efforts.
by Noah Whitaker
Suicide is a complex behavior just as we all are complex individuals. A suicidal person can be a person at any point on our walk through life. There are greater risks and protective factors present, but suicide can occur among all races, ages, religious affiliations or philosophies (or lack thereof), economic statuses, ages, and professions. It is important to remember this complexity when thinking about approaching prevention efforts.
by Noah Whitaker
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. More than forty-four thousand people die by suicide annually. Each death leaves behind survivors of suicide loss, including partners, family, friends, co-workers, schoolmates, and others. Often, these survivors are in need of resources such as support groups, counseling, and opportunities to take action. In many areas these supports are not available. This creates an opportunity for survivors to turn their experiences into advocacy and help bring resources into their community and/or join existing efforts.
by Noah Whitaker
January is a time of renewal, an opportunity for a fresh start. Many people work to better themselves via their New Year resolutions. For some, however, like me, January is different. It doesn’t tend to be a time to look forward, but rather it is a time for reflection—especially for those who have lost someone to suicide. There is a common saying among survivors of loss that suicide does not end pain, it simply transfers it onto others.
by Noah Whitaker
The holidays are a magical time. It is as if the glitter and twinkle of lights, the reddening of noses, and an echoed cough or sneeze all coalesce into the spirit of the season. This is the time of year I look forward to most. People tend to give a little more of themselves be it time, finances, or simple good will. Life becomes a little better.
by Noah Whitaker
November 19 is International Survivors of Suicide Day. This is an occasion that encourages people affected by suicide loss to gather, share comfort, and create an understanding of what has happened and the journey yet to come.
by Noah Whitaker
Teen suicide. These two words strike fear into the hearts of most parents. Due to this fear, the topic is frequently treated like a boogieman, and people believe that if they don’t talk about it, will not happen. The sad truth is that reality is the exact opposite. Silence leads to lost lives. In order to combat this issue we must confront it, become educated, expand, and strengthen programs to prevent, intervene, treat, and unfortunately, respond in the aftermath of suicide (postvention).
by Noah Whitaker
National Suicide Prevention Week is September 5-11, 2016. This is a time set aside to raise awareness of an issue that impacts the lives of far too many people. It is a time to increase awareness, education, and activities relating to suicide prevention. It is an opportunity for an article such as this.
by Lorie Lewis Ham
Jamie Tworkowksi is the founder of To Write Love on Her Arms–a non-profit dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and invest directly into treatment and recovery.
by Lorie Lewis Ham
Gidion’s Knot opened in Fresno this past weekend, presented by The New Ensemble, and it definitely fits with their goal to provide shows that make you think. I knew going in that I was going to enjoy my night at the theatre because I always enjoy a TNE show.
