Overcome the myths about suicide

The second annual Suicide Awareness Symposium just wrapped up in Wasilla Friday. I was affected by a friend’s suicide early in life and the topic has since then always been a difficult one for me. The symposium has supplied me with some new perspective on how I view the topic.

Suicide is a traumatic (and traumatizing) response to trauma which, in my opinion, needs to be viewed through that lens. Trauma touches and affects everyone differently and for those caught in its throes experiencing additional trauma, or inflicting it on others, can come to be viewed in a positive light. Couple this with the fact that suicide is challenging to discuss with others and with the exception of high profile events is rarely reported on and even then the details are glossed over.

One of the presenters at the symposium repeated numerous times that in his opinion the media refrains from reporting on suicides due to liability issues; that there is a concern among journalists that their reporting may cause another suicide which would expose the reporter (or his/her news agency) to potential litigation. That line of reasoning seems shallow to me for one could easily make the counter-point that not reporting suicides for what they are furthers the stigma allowing people to not acknowledge the elephant in the room that we are all fallible human beings subject to errant thoughts/beliefs. The greater liability, or I would argue greater damage, comes from not acknowledging and encouraging public discussion and I believe the well-reasoned journalist would get that.

In contrast to the presenters expressed opinion I believe it is the humanity involved and respect for those who are caught in the trauma of the completed suicide, which keeps the individual instances from being reported for what they are. I think there is merit in that line of reasoning, however, withholding news in the moment (even for good cause as in this case) places a further responsibility on the reporter to come back and address the topic or become responsible for the continued stigma which results in more trauma and deaths because people do not know or do not discuss the issue.

Here in Alaska the statistics are horrendous and we lead the nation in per capita deaths due to suicide. Suicide overly impacts our military, first responders and our youth. We need more public awareness about the topic and I applaud the Mat-Su Coalition for Suicide Prevention and the Alaska Trauma Center for co-hosting this symposium.

Myths need to be overcome. Asking about suicide is not going to plant the thought in another’s mind. If a person is experiencing trauma they are already aware of their options and that is just part of being human. If they are experiencing trauma and in your presence then they are seeking help (your help) but may not have the tools to express that and asking them a couple of simple questions may not only save their life but also spare you the trauma of buying into the stigma, not asking and then attending his/her funeral pondering the what if I would have only asked question.

Of course then it is too late…

The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) starts with two simple questions anyone can ask: 1. Have you wished you were dead or wished you could go to sleep and not wake up? and, 2. Have you actually had any thoughts of killing yourself? If the answer to question two is yes you need to invest some time with that person and get them evaluated.

The next four questions on the C-SSRS will rate the severity of the suicidal ideation and provides a baseline for mental health professionals (or others) to track and evaluate during further treatment.

The Question, Persuade and Refer method (QPR) works well among peers and certainly has its merits, the drawback is that during times of mass trauma (as in the Miller’s Reach fire) it can lead to false positives and overwhelm responders. That does not mean the techniques are not valid or should not be in our tool bags when we have concern for another.

Bottom line is that this is a problem that needs discussion and whatever means you use to save the life of another, your friend or loved one, you saved another human and helped to break the trauma cycle.

Roger Branson is a resident of Kasilof.