Typically spoken about as taboo, depression and suicide are issues running rampant in the United States.
The National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) recognizes September as Suicide Awareness Month and uses the month’s entirety to help raises awareness for an epidemic that is the third-leading cause of among young people.
“In the United States, every 15 minutes someone loses their life due to suicide,” Diana Finlay, LCSW with the Charlotte Taylor Center in Elizabethton said. “All across the board it’s very rampant. It’s the third leading cause of deaths for young people in Tennessee, between the ages of 10 to 19 years old. It’s very under advertised. The more we can help get the word out about suicide, the more we can do about stopping it.”
Finlay has spent over 25 years with Frontier Health, who operates the Charlotte Taylor Center, and stated that during her team, her and her coworkers see depression as a common problem locally.
“Numbers are higher in rural areas,” she said. “Suicide is such a such stigma locally. You see a lot of people dealing with depression and then there are triggers, such as divorce, bankruptcy, or a loss of job.”
The numbers in Tennessee, provided by the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN), show that suicide was the leading cause of deaths in the state in 2014 – the most current year of statistics provided by the state. Suicide deaths totaled 945 while motor vehicle accidents where at 915, followed by 376 for homicides and 165 for HIV.
The suicide rate for males is four times higher compared to females, Finlay added, with men typically using lethal force, such as firearms, while women tend to use means such as suffocation and are able to be found in time.
An economic impact is also felt from the issues in the state, according to TSPN. In Tennessee, the total charges for inpatient hospitalization associated with suicide attempts amounted to $96.5 million in 2014.
Along with the statewide numbers, the statistics are alarming for servicemen and women. In a study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the rate of suicide was greatest the first three years of a man or woman leaving the service after serving in either the Iraq or Afghanistan wars between 2001 and 2007. Compared to the U.S. population, the study stated, the deployed and non-deployed veterans had a higher risk of suicide, but lower risk of death from other causes combined.
Jack Stewart, TSPN Chairman for Northeast Tennessee, said that while the stats are alarming, measures are being taken to address the issue.
“It’s important to get the word about because it’s such a big issue,” he said. “Luckily, we’ve been able to provide more resources with the help of local organizations. We offer different events locally and we always encourage people to visit or website or contact one of the suicide prevention lines.
With such a sensitive subject takes an amount of training, too, he added.
Holly Burns, who serves with the suicide prevention team with the Tennessee Department of Health and is originally from Carter County, added that she, along with others with the team, are trained in a variety of issues when talking with individuals possibly contemplating suicide.
There are three different steps, she added, with the first being to question if someone is contemplating suicide.
“This is the hardest step to take,” she said. “Some may think that it will plant the idea in the other person’s head if they ask, but that does not increase the risk. In fact, most people thinking of suicide want to talk. If they say yes and start talking about the situation, they feel more relief and the feeling of anxiety decreases and hope increase.”
Burns added a member of the suicide team can either ask the individual directly or indirectly.
The second step is to persuade someone is to get help, she said.
“To initiate the persuasion, we must listen to the problems and reasons as to why this person is contemplating suicide,” she said. “Giving advice tends to be easy, quick and wrong. Listening takes time, patience, courage and is always right … give this person your full attention, do not judge them and tame your own fear so you can focus on theirs.
“What if the person says no and refuses to get help?,” she continued. “Involuntary treatment may necessary. Someone can easily call law officials or 1-800-Suicide to learn how you can intervene. If the local officials do see that the person is a harm to themselves, a local judge could order him or her to involuntary inpatient treatment. It is always best to have a friend or loved one who is angry, than having a friend or loved one who is dead.”
The last step Burns added about the training is referral.
“The best referral is taking the person to the counselor or a facility,” she said. “If nothing is available, continue ensuring the person is keeping their appointment and continuing to agree to help. Most people want to honor their word, so if they make a promise, they may act in good faith to keep that promise.”
As the midway mark reaches the month, Finlay said that individuals don’t need to be afraid to let their voices be heard.
“There are so many different organizations,” she added. “Between the health department, us, there’s someone around that is always ready to talk. It’s just taking the first step and we’re here to help.”
Citizens battling depression and looking to speak with someone have a variety of options to choose from. There are different hotlines to call, including 1-800-273-8255. Frontier Health also offers a crisis response hotline, available 24/7, she added. The hotline number is 1-877-928-9062. In emergency situations, call 911.
Visit tnsp.org online for more information on suicide prevention and a list of events going on in the coming months.