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Are we doing enough to fight suicide?

Post-Bulletin (Rochester, MN) - 6/4/2016

June 04--Suicide is the eighth-leading cause of death in Minnesota, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Overall, one person dies by suicide every 13 hours in Minnesota.

The exact number of suicides is unknown, health experts say, because many do not wish to discuss or report the cause of death. The numbers could be higher than what is made available to the public.

"Most people who complete suicide, you never know if that's what happened," said Christy Ferrington, community-based services director of Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center. "You hear someone passed away ... but no one talks about why they passed away."

Getting help for a suicidal individual can be challenging.

Ferrington said Hiawatha Valley's residential facility in Winona has 38 beds that are almost always filled. Hiawatha -- with a staff members in five counties -- maintains about 330 cases at any given time.

"We're pretty fortunate in our area," Ferrington said. "Not every community has a place where people can go. I would say rural and smaller communities have nothing."

There's no definitive way of determining why suicide numbers have risen over the last decade.

It's the leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 14. Almost five times as many people die by suicide in the state per year than by homicide.

In 2010, suicides cost Minnesota about $749.5 billion of combined lifetime medical and work loss, which equates to an average of about $1.24 million per suicide death.

Because of the rising rates, the Minnesota Department of Health has called for an updated statewide suicide prevention plan and for private and public entities to increase prevention measures, said Jon Roesler, epidemiologist supervisor with the Injury and Violence Prevention Unit at the MDH.

The plan called for a full-time suicide prevention coordinator at the state level as well as increasing awareness by teaching schools, parents and teachers how to have conversations about mental health with youths and young adults.

"Prevention works," Roesler said. "It's working with our kids and youths. ... While suicide has increased overall, it hasn't increased as much for them. It may work for other age groups and different groups. It's a great sign."

Stigmatized, frustrations

Jennifer Brandt, who works at Faith Lutheran Church in Dodge Center, was diagnosed with long-term clinical anxiety and depression. She has dealt with her illness for a decade.

"I had seen stories," she said. "You always hope that 'it's just my thyroid' acting up and triggering these responses. You always hope for something else."

Brandt has learned to manage her illness. Although her depression and anxiety might not go away completely, she continues to go through counseling and exercise along with support from loved ones.

"It's kind of a long journey," she said. "Unfortunately, unlike other illnesses, this one doesn't go away."

Recently, Brandt's church in Dodge Center held a forum to discuss mental health and to provide resources for those who are actively seeking help.

Brandt said the forum may have been a positive start to an open dialogue about mental health.

"Sometimes, you will hear, 'Someone's got depression or anxiety,' or 'I am really struggling with my depression,'" Brandt said. "It doesn't come up in fellowship, and it doesn't get talked about. Some churches treat it like it doesn't exist, which is not the direction we want to be taking."

Other factors could include cultural perceptions on mental health and suicide, Roesler said.

"Some felt that was contributing to the suicides within their communities," he stated. "We need to make sure there is culturally appropriate mental health care for individuals."

Accessibility also deters those from seeking help. People living in rural areas may have limited accessibility or availability to resources.

Some wonder how the stigma surrounding mental illness became so strong. Some believe the stigma is perpetuated by stereotypes in media coverage, depicting mental illness as a rarity and those who have it as dangerous.

"They're the only individuals you see broadcasted ... You don't see your neighbors, bank tellers, teachers," Ferrington said. "People don't see the normal people with mental health issues. It's more common than they think. Most of the time, you don't know. You don't wear it on your shoulder. You couldn't tell if they're sick."

The state health department also works with media to avoid a "contagion" when covering suicide. The MDH provides resources to help news reports portray suicide in a way that doesn't make other people susceptible.

"Ultimately, suicide is like an infectious disease," Roesler said."It's a thought. While most of us are fairly immune, there are people who are very susceptible. We need to work on how we can increase resiliency."

For those struggling with a mental illness, simply telling a loved one that they need help can be met with reluctance or fear.

"It's an up and down roller coaster and makes people exhausted," he said, "and they feel like they're getting lied to. ... They still very much love the person but feel they don't have the energy or ability to help them anymore."

What you can do

Those who don't understand the causes of suicide sometimes blame the individual for being "selfish."

"It has nothing to do with being selfish," Ferrington said. "When they look at their lives, what they're going through, they truly feel that the world is better without them. Mental illness can be a really horrible disease if you're not getting appropriate help."

In addition to professional health care providers, those struggling with mental illnesses need support from family and friends.

"When professionals leave at the end of the day, those people give the continued support," Ferrington noted. "One isn't more important than another. It's important to have both. It's trying, and it can be very difficult to watch someone you love dealing with these illnesses."

The best thing to do in order to help a loved one is to start a conversation. A simple discussion, can change a person's life and learn that an illness doesn't define a person.

"I want there not to be a stigma of it, and have it slowly wear away," Brandt said. "It's not casting a black cloud over it. I hope that they can come forward, talk, and be accepted for who they are."

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