Taking one’s own life
By Donna Barker
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dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Suicide is a community concern that needs to be addressed, according to consultant Cheryl Robinson of Sterling.
An estimated 75 students, parents and concerned area citizens attended a Monday night meeting at Princeton High School presented by Robinson on suicide awareness and prevention.
Princeton High School Principal Barb Schmidt said the school has been hit too hard by suicides in recent years, and the PHS School Board wanted to provide the awareness training for not just staff but also for the general public.
Robinson led the two-hour interactive training session, using examples of her own experience with her son Patrick’s suicide four years ago. Robinson centered her presentation around the word Talk, which is an acronym for Tell, Ask, Listen and Keep Safe.
People with suicidal thoughts often give off invitations to others that they need help and want to talk about their thoughts, Robinson said. Family and friends need to be able to recognize and respond to those invitations. There should be no stigma in seeking help or having mental health issues, she said.
As a community, people need to learn how to talk with others about suicide and to help people as they go through various struggles, Robinson said. The goal is to keep the person safe and to get help for him or her.
Robinson also talked about the myths of suicide, saying there is no one set group of high risk people when it comes to suicide. They may be teens or elderly, people with illnesses, people going through crisis situations, soldiers, people with substance abuse issues or mental health issues, to name just a few groups.
“We need to keep our minds open that there are lots of populations at risk. And, not everyone will fit into a group,” Robinson said. “Suicide is not just a school issue; it’s a community issue.”
Robinson urged people to know the other people in their environment, whether family, friends, co-workers or others. There’s no way to just look at a person and determine if he/she is suicidal. People need to watch for behavior changes in others, such as isolation or changes in work, sleep or eating habits, to name a few.
Certain events can trigger suicide thoughts, Robinson said. Those events could be the death of a loved one, broken relationships, financial hardships, legal problems and/or the holidays.
Robinson also talked about how to initiate a conversation with a person who may have suicidal thoughts. In her training, it’s good to start with a three-word safe opening, “Sometimes when people,” and then continue with whatever issue the person sees. Let people know they aren’t alone in their feelings and thoughts. Ask directly and clearly if that person is having suicidal thoughts, Robinson said.
Robinson will be back in Princeton on Nov. 5, for another free Suicide Prevention program for the community. The program is set for 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the New Hope Church of the Nazarene, located at 30 N. Sixth St.
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