It's National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, start listening

In trying to find a topic for this week’s column, I came across an image that was making the rounds on social media.

The picture was of a person with the caption “Just found out there’s a number to the suicide hotline I can text now! Relieved because I’m better at texting than I am at talking. Press START to 741-741.”

The image came from the Facebook page “Payton’s Pledge to Stop the Bullying,” which is a site dedicated to the memory of Payton Ruth Ann Anderson, who died in 2012 after a self-inflicting gunshot wound.

The number to the Crisis Text Line, which is a 24/7 support service founded in 2013 where anyone who texts the number will be connected with a trained crisis counselor.

For as much we knock technology sometimes, this is a service that can really do some good. For a person who is going through a crisis, it can be difficult for them to call or physically talk to someone about their problems and what they are going through. They do not want to burden their family and friends with their problems.

Another reason why it is hard for someone with suicidal tendencies is when they do ask for help, the response they get is “you’re just trying to get attention.”

The aforementioned reason was one of many that I’ve seen regarding suicide prevention, which isn’t a surprise since September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Suicide can affect everyone no matter what age, gender, race or orientation:

• According to the American Foundation for Suicide prevention, there are 117 suicides per day and men are three-and-a-half times more likely to commit suicide than women.

• The Centers for Disease Control website states that 8 percent of students grades 9-12 surveyed attempted suicide one or more times in the last 12 months.

• A study from the CDC also reports that “LGBTQ youth in grades 7–12 found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their heterosexual peers.”

There are several reasons why people make the decision to take their own life. For some, it’s because they have too many problems and they feel there is no other way out for them.

For others, they are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and they decide they want to go out on their own terms or do not want to be a burden on their family.

Some take their own life because they were bullied by others and want to make them feel their pain.

Sometimes we don’t know why someone would take their own life until it’s too late. Suicide is a permanent solution to what could be a temporary problem.

Symptoms of suicidal behavior can include excessive sadness, moodiness, hopelessness, sudden withdrawal and dangerous or self-harmful behavior.

Suicide does not affect just the person who takes their own life. It also hurts their family, friends and anyone who knew them. Former wrestler Kevin Von Erich, who had three brothers take their own lives, once said “Suicide is hell on your family.”

So what can we do about this issue?

The discussion of suicide can start at home. Parents should talk about suicide with their children and let them know they can talk to them. Even if their child isn’t suffering from depression, they might know someone who is going through some tough times.

Another way to help combat suicide is to just listen. If someone reaches out to you, or you know a friend or a family member who you think is having problems, talk to them.

College students can contact their university’s wellness center. Veterans can call the Veteran Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.

If you are having suicidal thoughts or just need someone to talk to, there are numerous crisis hotlines that can help you. The National Suicide Prevention hotline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

You are not alone and you matter to the people in your life.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.