Health & Wellness: Help Prevent Suicide by Being the One to Listen

The controversial drama 13 Reasons Why was released by Netflix at the end of March. Based on a book by the same name released in 2007, this series focused on a 17-year old girl who kills herself and leaves cassette tapes for her classmates telling them about the role they had in her decision to end her life. The series became popular and Netflix was accused of romanticizing suicide. Negativity seemed to surround 13 Reasons Why but maybe it should be viewed as a discussion tool for parents and teens.    

Suicide is not a pleasant or easy topic to discuss and still has much negative stigma surrounding it. But it’s the third leading cause of death for kids ages 10 to 14 and the second leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 24. And that needs to change.

A scary statistic about suicide was also released earlier this year from the National Center for Health Statistics that shows suicides among young females (ages 15 to 19) is on the rise. The current rate is double what it was in 2007 and is the highest in the last 40 years for that age group. However, the suicide rate for males of that age group still remains higher.

The numbers for attempted suicides are even larger, with more females than males being treated for attempted suicide, and larger still for those with suicidal thoughts. These numbers are cause for concern and a cry for help to parents, educators, health professionals, and politicians.

Being a teenager can be hard. Your body is going through changes and there’s pressure coming from every direction. Add problems that social media can cause and it’s no wonder that young people are suffering from disorders like anxiety and depression.

Mental health professionals have not been able to find just a single cause for suicide; it stems from a wide variety issues that combine to create a powerful maelstrom that seems to offer one option to escape the turmoil.

Like Hannah Baker, the main character of 13 Reasons Why, many teens believe that suicide is the only way to stop the pain. That’s where they’re wrong; there is help available - and you can be a part of it.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month which makes it the perfect time to sit down and talk to your kids about suicide and how to get help. Because they may be too ashamed or afraid of hurting you to start talking, bring the conversation to them. It’s important to let them know that you are always there for them and can talk to you about any problems without being judged.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has created a new movement called #BeThe1To. They are asking everyone to be the one to be there for someone who needs help and to follow up to see that they are doing well. 

Delaware County Magazine is always here to find you help if you need it. Please feel free to give us a call (610-789-0600) or contact us on social media if you need help.  

How will you #BeThe1To?

You can find more information about the movement and other organizations here:

866teenlink.org (https://866teenlink.org/)

suicidepreventionlifeline.org (https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org)

www.bethe1to.com (http://www.bethe1to.com)

Signs of potential suicidal behavior include talking about dying, changes in personality, behavior, sleep patterns or eating habits, and a fear of losing control.

If you suspect someone may be at risk:

1. Do not leave the person alone.

2. Remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt.

3. Call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or TeenLink at 866-833-6546.

4. Take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.