Western New York Teacher Center

Help is available. Suicide is preventable. This feeling will not last. It is a temporary state of mind. This low point is a deceptive part of a process that leads one to believe this situation is permanent and hopeless, but that is not the truth. The truth is that things always change, and it is very possible for you to feel much better about your life.       

 

A national suicide prevention hotline 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) is available 24/7 for those who reach out to talk to someone. 

Crisis Services 834-3131 is a local phone resource (out of area: 716-834-3131) that is available 24/7 to anyone who asks for assistance.   

New York State provides a webpage that lists suicide prevention hotlines for every area within the state.

If you need to reach a hotline immediately and do not have this list, push "0" (zero) for the operator, and ask to be connected to the suicide prevention hotline.

 

Suicide refers to the act of intentionally ending one's own life. By the end of today, 90 Americans will have taken their own lives. At some point during adolescence, approximately forty percent of all teenagers: 1) think about suicide (about 17%) 2) think about a plan for suicide (about 16.5%  3) attempt suicide (8.5%) or 4) attempt suicide which requires medial attention (about 3%). Although media attention gives the impression that college students are at higher risk for suicide, they are actually at a substantially lower risk than others in that age group. Suicide rates increase with age, with the highest percentage of suicides among the elderly. At the same time, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all Americans, the 2nd leading cause of death for adults ages 25-34, and the 3rd leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24.

In the past there is evidence that a public health approach was effective in reducing suicide rates. Suicide rates have been declining among youth and elders, two groups which have received the most attention. However, the death toll appears to be rising among other population groups.

 

Suicides among military personnel before, during and after service has risen dramatically since the beginning of the Iraq war. Much effort and attention has been given to those men and women to support their reaching out for help. Those who seek help are more likely to remain alive. Overcoming stigma regarding mental health support is essential to saving lives. Each branch has its own webpage: army,  navy and air force.

 

Finding a way through the shock and grief after a friend, family member or acquaintance has ended his or her life, can be challenging. When a loved one commits suicide, a long journey begins for those who cared about the person who has died. Mourners often find themselves going through the stages of loss and grief with questions specific to suicide. One webpage offers suggestions regarding healthy ways in which people might repond to the emerging and changing feelings. Another website is devoted entirely to grief support for those who are survivors of suicide. Another excellent webpage addresses the numerous feelings, thoughts, ideas and issues related to losing someone because of suicide.

Hospice directs people in Western New York to listings of both general and specific resources for parents, siblings, family and friends who are survivors of suicide.

 

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center is a federally supported resource center dedicated to the prevention of suicide. Training, publications, technical support, grants, agency support and much more is available, especially for those are working to address and help those individuals at higher risk for suicide.

For those who are looking at programs, connected to the above website is a Best Practices Registry that lists effective programs, expert statements and standards.  

The 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention was released in September 2012 in a renewed effort to identify strategies, update information, define goals and provide resources.

Collaborating with this agency is the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention that has a listing of more resources with descriptions. Readers can also search or brownse in a library that connects to a specific article from hundreds of on-line publications.  

Free suicide prevention materials are available from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.