September was Suicide Awareness Month, a time in which people talk openly about an issue that often stays hidden.
As a therapist and supervisor of crisis mental health services, it is likely that I have at least one conversation a day about suicide and the prevention of it. However, this is not the norm.
Many people are uncomfortable talking about it which is isolating for those who have thoughts of suicide. The fact remains, however, that it is way too common for people to have these thoughts.
Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in Kentucky, with 800 Kentuckians dying by suicide each year. Additionally, suicide is now the second-leading cause of death for Kentuckians ages 10-34, according to the Center for Disease Control. Whitley County ranks 30th in suicide deaths in comparison to Kentucky’s 120 counties. Unfortunately, these statistics show just part of the story.
For every person who dies by suicide, there are 25 more people who attempt suicide. It is important to remember that these statistics are not just statistics. They represent someone’s child, parent, sibling, spouse, friend, and co-worker.Â
Each of these lives matters to someone.
We all have the power to help prevent suicide. Many times, there is stigma related to talking about suicide. It is hard to bring suicide up as a topic of conversation.
Studies have shown that simply starting a conversation about mental health or asking someone if they’re okay can make a real difference.
This conversation will not plant ideas of suicide in others’ minds and actually provides a sense of relief that someone is willing to talk about it.
Once it is discussed, a plan can be made on possibly getting the person with suicidal thoughts professional help.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline is always available and can be contacted by calling or texting 988.
Do not rely on Chat GPT or social media for therapy.
The 988 line is answered locally and those answering it have access to local resources for therapy. There are many options for a licensed therapist, both in person and virtual.
If you are in crisis and need more than what you can get through therapy but are not to the point of needing hospitalization, there is a crisis stabilization unit in Corbin called the Crisis Hub. This unit has a walk-in component that you can be seen same day by a therapist and a prescriber on weekdays. It also has an eight-bed unit (adults only) in which you can stay for 3-5 days to become more emotionally stable.
There is another unit for children in Corbin called Turning Point. Both of these units are operated by Cumberland River Behavioral Health.
Limiting access to items, including firearms, that can be used to harm one’s self is also important to address. Although it is difficult to talk about limiting access to firearms in this region, it is an important conversation to have.
Limiting access does not mean gun control. It can be various things such as allowing others to keep firearms until suicidal thoughts decrease or putting cable locks or trigger locks on firearms so that it takes more thought and effort to gain access thereby decreasing the likelihood that using a firearm can be as an impulsive act.
Whitney Strong is a group that advocates for this and is able to provide these locks for free.
As this month comes to an end, if you are having thoughts of suicide, please know that there is help available and you are not alone.
If you want to help others, remember that it takes strength to talk about suicide and that you can be a light to others by being willing to talk about it and know the resources available.
