Kiwanis Learns More About Suicide Prevention Week

Chipley - At the weekly Kiwanis luncheon meeting, Tricia Pearce, Community Relations Officer for Life Management Center of Northwest Florida, stated that this week, September 5 through 11, is the National “Suicide Prevention Week.”  

There is such a negative stigmatism associated with mental health, which unfortunately, people don’t want to talk about. We need to talk about mental health and be willing to help each other with this problem.  Mental health issues have no limits of boundaries.  Mental illnesses can affect a person of any age, race, religion, or income.  1 in 4 adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. 

Suicide is the 11th leading causes of death among adults and the 3rd leading cause of death among persons 5 to 24 years old.  Some of the signs individual having a mental health crisis may be experiencing: threatening to hurting or killing themselves, seeking ways to hurt themselves, talking about death, dying or suicide, self-destructive behavior, feeling hopeless (feeling like there is no way out), withdrawing from family and friends, increasing alcohol or drug abuse, uncontrolled rage or anger, feeling like there is no reason to live, anxiety and mood swings. 

Pearce stated that we can help our family and friends by: being aware and knowledgeable of the signs of mental health problems, get involved and show an interest with those experiencing mental health crisis, be willing to listen, be non-judgmental, don’t dare them to carry out any threats to hurt themselves, don’t ask WHY? – this encourages defensiveness, don’t act shocked, don’t be sworn to secrecy, offer hope, and take action. 

The Baker Act is a tool to help anyone from keeping someone from hurting themselves.  All you need to do is report the circumstances to the Sheriff’s Office.  For each suicide, there are on an average 6 family members or friends.  Helping family and friends with mental health problems is something that we can all take a part in. 

She stated that the Life Management Center has many programs to assist individuals and families.  They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with councilors and trained staff.  Their phone number is 850-522-4485 and Toll Free at 800-490-4826.  The center is a not-for-profit corporation and a part of the United Way Agency.  Their fees are set on a sliding scale, and most insurance providers accept their services. 

For an invitation to lunch, contact any Kiwanian or call Mark Collins, Membership Chairperson, at 850-258-9453.

For more information about the Kiwanis Club of Chipley, visit www.ChipleyKiwanis.com.