September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and a new statewide multimedia campaign being rolled out is intended to remind Nebraskans that there is help and hope readily available all across the state, no matter how bleak things might seem, and to help connect services to the people who need them.
“Our state has been very proactive in ensuring that Nebraskans have access to behavioral health resources,” said Governor Pete Ricketts. “These efforts have shown success. According to U.S. News and World Report, Nebraska ranks 4th nationally in mental health. In September, we’re spotlighting the mental health resources available to Nebraskans, as well as introducing our new suicide prevention media campaign—Nebraska Needs You.”
“We know that it can be hard to start conversations about mental health, but they are very important conversations and could save a life,” said Sheri Dawson, director of the Division of Behavioral Health. “It is never too early to talk about mental health and we don’t want the conversation to be too late. Use your eyes, ears, heart, and mind to reach out and offer help if someone is suicidal. If you’re unsure if someone is thinking of ending his/her life, ask. To make starting that conversation a little easier, we are working with suicide prevention partners and rolling out suicide prevention media campaign that includes print ads, TV, radio, and digital material. I am grateful to so many amazing partners and providers for the work they do each day to save lives. The campaign tagline is Nebraska Needs You, Help, Hope and Healing in the Heartland. We collaborated with the Kim Foundation, Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition, the Nebraska Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, NAMI Nebraska, Bryan Health, CHI, UNL’s Public Policy Center, survivors and others. We’re working with media partners including Learfield, Lee Enterprises, Telemundo, and Nebraska Public Media to spread the word via a variety of platforms.”
“Each of us – community members, survivors, educators, media, advocates, young and old alike – can play a contributing role in changing the statistics and saving lives from suicide,” added Julia Hebenstreit, executive director of the Kim Foundation. “Whether it’s how we report on suicide deaths, or the language we use so we are not shaming survivors or those who have attempted suicide and are contributing to a more open, impactful dialogue, we can all make a positive difference in suicide prevention.”
Family and friends are often the first to recognize the warning signs of suicide, and they can take the first step toward helping a loved one find mental health treatment. Warning signs include:
* Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
* Talking about feeling empty or hopeless or having no reason to live
* Talking about feeling trapped or feeling that there are no solutions
* Feeling unbearable emotional or physical pain
* Withdrawing from family and friends
What To Do When Someone Is Suicidal
There are actions you can take to help someone when warning signs of suicide are detected. Introducing the topic of suicide will not put the idea into their head, instead, the person will probably feel relief that they can finally share and talk about it. Saying things out loud may help the person actually hear it for the first time and bring a new perspective to the situation.
Ask the Question
* “I have the feeling you are thinking about suicide but are having trouble bringing it up.”
* “Are you thinking about suicide?”
* “Sometimes people in certain situations feel suicidal. Have you been thinking about killing yourself?”
Listen
* Listen and look for warning signs and risk factors.
* Ask what is causing the distress
Ask About Reasons for Living and plans for suicide
*Find out what is important to the person and why they may choose to live
* “Do you have a plan to kill yourself?”
* Ask how, where, when, and if they have the means in place (Do they have a gun/ pills/ rope or whatever they plan to use?)
Take Action
* Remove means like pills
* Offer your support in obtaining help from a professional
* Don’t leave the person alone once you have determined he or she is at risk
* Remind the person that seeking help for depression isn’t a sign of weakness
* QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer). Qualified trainers are available across the state and are ready to present to your group. The presentation is about 1.5 hours and is appropriate for all group sizes. Like CPR, QPR equips you to save lives. For more information on QPR and other training classes, visit http://www.suicideprevention.nebraska.edu/resourcesandlinks.htm.
* Reach out to the Nebraska chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention https://afsp.org/ and the Nebraska State Suicide Coalition http://www.suicideprevention.nebraska.edu/index.htm for additional resources. For those with a loved one who has completed suicide, visit http://nelossteam.nebraska.edu/ to be connected with services.
Need to talk or get immediate help in a crisis? Help is available. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide they should call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If they are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.