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Suicide: Robin Williams' tragic death puts spotlight on perils of depression

Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA) - 8/16/2014

Aug. 16--The death of a well-loved celebrity has spurred a national conversation about mental health issues and suicide, including locally.

News that actor Robin Williams was battling deep depression when he died Monday spurred discussion about resources and support for those suffering with emotional or physical pain.

Williams' death was reported to be suicide. The actor's wife, Susan Schneider, said Thursday that Williams, 63, was also in the early stages of Parkinson's disease.

The reasons Williams may have chosen to end his own life may never be fully understood, but local and national public health officials note suicide rates generally increase with age.

"Older adults have struggles," said Charles H. Benson, a licensed marriage and family therapist with Sutter-Yuba Mental Health. "Many of those struggles are loss -- loss of loved ones, loss of freedoms, loss of independence. They can become quite isolated, and becoming isolated can cause a host of problems."

Problems such as depression.

Numbers could climb

According to a Yuba-Sutter community health needs assessment produced by Rideout Memorial Hospital in 2013, "As the baby boomer population ages, the number of suicides among the elderly may be expected to climb."

Sixty-one area residents 65 and older died by suicide between 2000 and 2012, and the Rideout report authors suggested some suicides among seniors are not reported as such due to factors such as stigma or insurance.

When suicide occurs, it is often due to some aspect of impeded judgment, which could be caused by mental illness or medication, said John Floe, prevention services coordinator with Sutter-Yuba Mental Health Services.

"What people are looking to do, is (they are) looking to end the pain. It's usually emotional pain," Floe said.

"Sometimes they're isolated. They might not be getting treatment for what they have and they're trying to navigate on their own," he said. "Depression has to do with isolation, and usually individuals that are depressed are isolated."

Often times, older adults aren't willing to get help, Benson said. "They want to do things themselves. It's a sense of being independent and feeling like they can solve their own problems."

"Part of being self-reliant is to ask for help," he said. "It's just as OK to get treated for mental health as it is with blood pressure.

"Depression is not a normal part of aging," he said. He encouraged those suffering to reach out to their primary care physicians. Sometimes, what looks like mental health could be a physical problem.

Keeping an eye out

Family members or friends can keep an eye on the older adults in their lives and watch for signs of isolation, increased substance abuse or decreased communication.

Caring Calls, at 674-5253, is a phone line available for older people to call to connect. Friends or family of loved ones can call to have workers phone older adults daily to check on their well-being.

In addition, Bi-County Elder Services Team serves adults over 60 to help maintain positive social connections and relationships, help maintain a level of independence, connect adults to mental health services and provide advocacy. Through the program, Benson said, he's trained about 1,000 people in the area to notice, talk about and identify depression.

To counter feelings of isolation, senior centers -- offering yoga, bands, book reading and more -- are active, social places where individuals can get connected and feel comfortable, Floe said.

There are a lot of ways to get help.

Symptoms of Depression

If you think you may be suffering from depression, talk to your primary care physician, reach out to friends or family, or stop by the Open Access Clinic at 1965 Live Oak Blvd. on Tuesday or Wednesday between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. There, residents can walk in and speak with someone for a mental health assessment.

Signs of trouble might include:

--Low mood, irritable mood.

--Lack of interest in activities that used to be fun.

--Problems eating or sleeping, either too much or too little.

--Lack of energy or problems concentrating.

--Excessive feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

--Thoughts of death or suicide.

Where to Get Help

If you are having thoughts or feelings of suicide:

--Call the Yuba-Sutter 24-hour crisis call line at 673-8255.

--Visit Psych Emergency Services: 1965 Live Oak Blvd., Yuba City.

Other Resources

--http://sutter. networkofcare.org/mh/

--Caring Calls for older adult welfare checks: 674-5253

--Bi-County Elder Services Team: 674-1885 (ex. 102)

Suicidal depression a widespread issue

Thoughts of suicide are not rare.

Approximately 10.5 percent of Sutter County residents and 9.5 percent of Yuba County residents had seriously thought about committing suicide at some point, according to Information from interviews gathered during the 2009 California Health Interview Survey.

Just last month, the Yuba-Sutter 24-hour crisis call line received between 30 and 40 calls related to suicide.

Sometimes there are no signs that someone is having suicidal thoughts, said prevention services coordinator John Floe.

That's why the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program has now been introduced in every area high school, he said. The program puts students and staff through peer-to-peer training on how to help friends who are having thoughts and feelings of suicide.

In the community, 171 people have been trained through "applied suicide intervention skills training," and an additional 181 community members have received mental health first aid training, Floe said.

He helps build the prevention and intervention program efforts through Sutter-Yuba Mental Health Services.

Those programs are funded through the Mental Health Services Act.

How to Help

Listen, take a person contemplating suicide seriously, and call for help, said prevention services coordinator John Floe.

Floe said there are signs a person is thinking of suicide:

--Increased isolation

--Additional substance abuse

--Decreased communication

--Giving away possessions

--Talking about having found a solution to a problem but not expressing what that solution is.

"If that individual is having thoughts and has a plan, you should stay with the person because you are their lifeline," Floe said.

Floe said those having suicidal thoughts or feelings are resistant to look for any kind of help when they're in that dark place.

Someone who knows a person having suicidal thoughts is the most frequent catalyst for that person to get help, Floe said. "A friend will reach out for help for them and try to get them connected."

Crisis workers at the Yuba-Sutter 24-hour crisis call line (673-8255) can help guide those who call through the process of getting help for the individuals having suicidal thoughts or feelings. Those who want help can also access crisis emergency services at 1965 Live Oak Blvd. in Yuba City.

A psych emergency team can meet with a caller to create a safety plan. The plan will review the risk, ask how much pain the caller is in at the moment, help keep that person safe, make sure the individual has safety contacts and link the person to a health worker, Floe said.

"We want to disable their suicide plan. We want to try to ease the pain just by having somebody to talk to about having thoughts and feelings of having suicidal thoughts."

CONTACT reporter Monica Vaughan at 749-4783 and on Twitter @AD_Vaughan.

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