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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 10, 2019)
OPINION A8 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2019 EDITORIAL Breaking the silence on suicide hat 825 Oregonians died in a single year by suicide is a sober- ing assessment of our col- lective ability to help those who feel trapped in their own despair. That it’s such a hid- den statistic, however, is an embarrassing reflection of our collective ignorance. Hundreds more people died by suicide in Oregon in 2017 than by traffic crashes, firearms or drug overdose. The suicide rate in Oregon is well above the national average, as it has been for the past three decades. Yet this undeniable public health issue has lacked the public attention and sustained out- cry that it desperately needs. Some of that stems from the stigma that persists around mental illness and suicide, shutting off con- versation or even acknowl- edgment that a suicide has T occurred. Some may stem from the fear of encour- aging “copycat” behavior. Regardless of the motiva- tion, however, our families, schools, communities and media organizations have too often chosen the easy way out by simply keeping silent. Meanwhile, the sui- cide rate in Oregon and the United States has continued to climb. Clearly, silence hasn’t worked. This week, news organizations around the state are collaborating to bring attention to the prob- lem of suicide, report on populations at highest risk and share resources on how to prevent it. While the “Breaking the Silence” proj- ect won’t necessarily pro- vide answers, it aims to start a statewide effort to con- front it. Using responsi- ble reporting practices that examine, not sensational- IT REQUIRES THE WILLINGNESS TO HAVE THOSE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS IN THE FIRST PLACE. ize, suicide, these stories can provide the common under- standing, motivation, tools and questions that can help the community mobilize against this public health threat. The data show just how widespread a problem this is. Oregon’s suicide rate is 14th highest in the coun- try and suicide is the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 34, accord- ing to the Oregon Health Authority. One fifth of those who kill themselves are veterans. More than half the deaths are caused by firearms. While those statis- tics may seem daunting, they can also provide pos- sible avenues where lead- ers can make a difference. Such data, in the aggregate, can help build support for increased funding for veter- ans’ health services or pro- vide tangible prevention options, such as the 2017 law that allows family mem- bers and police officers to petition a court to take away firearms from someone at risk for suicide or causing harm to others. We also need to recog- nize that Oregon’s youth are struggling. Nearly 9 percent of eighth-graders self-reported having tried to kill themselves one or more times in the previous year and nearly double that percentage considered it, according to Oregon Health Authority data. That chil- dren just entering their teen years would even think of suicide as an option should be its own open-and-shut case for more counsel- ing, support and training in schools. And health officials can lead by providing guid- ance for families, schools, health departments, physi- cians and nonprofits on how to talk about suicide both as a general public health issue and on an individual basis. This is not an insur- mountable problem. Resources already exist and show that crisis counsel- ing lines and other outreach efforts make a difference. Even friends and fam- ily members can take steps to help a loved one who is struggling by asking a series of questions about whether they have wished they were dead, thought about kill- ing themselves or made any plans toward killing them- selves. But it requires the willingness to have those uncomfortable conversa- tions in the first place. The effects of suicide reach far beyond the indi- vidual. The injury is borne by families, friends, com- munities and the public at large. It’s long past time to start treating it that way. This editorial, written by the editorial board of The Oregonian, is running in newspapers around the state this week as part of Break- ing the Silence, a collabora- tive effort to address suicide in a productive way. GUEST COLUMN GUEST COLUMN Choose to continue the sentence; Losses affect students who are left behind to stay and fight another day used to consider the semi- That same day, I drew myself a colon the unwanted child picture of a semicolon and hung of punctuation. It is usually it on my wall. Her story and the misused or mistakenly typed on simple drawing of that semico- lon changed my entire view of the keyboard if you forgot to the unwanted child of punctua- hold shift while pressing for the tion; I was left with a yearning to colon button. In writing, semi- colons are used when the author learn more. could have used a period I discovered that but chooses to con- there is a movement nect clauses for a lon- called Project Semico- lon. Amy Bleuel started ger, more interesting this non-profit organi- sentence. But now, the zation after she lost her semicolon has become father to suicide. Since greater than a simple Ericka Wells 2013, this movement punctuation mark. The semicolon has helped over 5.2 mil- lion people. They follow the changed for me when I saw a quote my friend shared with me: picture of it in a friend’s room. I “A semicolon is used when an asked her what it stood for, and author could’ve chosen to end she replied, “It’s when an author their sentence, but chose not to. could’ve chosen to end their sen- tence, but chose to continue The author is you, and the sen- instead.” I fell silent, working out tence is your life.” Project Semi- colon’s website holds valuable the reasoning behind her words. She then told me her story articles and resources for anyone starting with her middle school experiencing depression, sui- cidal thoughts, loneliness, and/or friend. They would draw semi- colons on their wrists with eye- other mental diseases, and seeks liner (so it wouldn’t smudge off) to help with every struggle. as a reminder of hope for their From this movement, tattoos life’s hardships. She suffers from of semicolons have spread like ADHD which causes her to have wildfire. These tattoos come in anxiety; she has also experienced all different forms, from sim- ple to extravagant pieces of art; depression. I realized then that there is no limit to the creativ- it related to survival and hope. I ity. Many tattoos I’ve seen are with words like “cont;nue,” or “warr;or,” or “surv;ve.” But the most impactful tattoo I’ve seen is a heartbeat that goes flat, but at the end, there is a semico- lon, and the heartbeat returns to normal. It shows that they tried to end their (life) sentence and start another one (death), but they decided to fight and survive another day. The semicolon has taken on many different meanings. For some, it’s in remembrance of a loved one; for others, it is a symbol of hope, optimism, sup- port, and/or survival. It symbol- izes strength, where people can rise from their ashes like a phoe- nix and become stronger and beautiful once again. For me, I see hope and inspi- ration to achieve my dreams and goals. Every time I look at the semicolon on my wall, I feel inspired to keep pushing through the day and have confidence that everything will work out in the end. But more importantly, I know that the semicolon is more than punctuation. Ericka Wells is a student at Hermiston High School and an aspiring author writing her own book series. PET OF THE WEEK Alvin is a work in progress. He is the last of the hoard situation and the most unsocialized. He needs the right person to give him the chance to get to know him and his amazing personality. No children. MEET ALVIN! Small and Large Animal Care 541.567.1138 I M A K R A V N E L O H P Mark Sargent, DVM • Brent Barton, DVM Eugenio Mannucci, DVM, cVMA • Jana von Borstel, DVM, cVMA Mon: 8-6 Tue - Fri: 8-5 Sat: 8-12 Emergency Service don’t think it’s an exaggeration this has had on us is weird. There when I say that my class has are some days when we think we gone through a lot. see someone around school, but then we remember that they passed I never thought this would be earlier that year or even longer something I’d experience. When I ago. We also think about the last think about it now, I never thought time we saw one of our I’d experience it this much. classmates, and how not From the moment I’ve long after that they were started high school, my class gone. has experienced the loss of a Some of us live with classmate at least once every regret. That goes hand year. in hand with replaying It’s a strange day when it all the times we’ve seen happens. I remember the feel- ing each time right before Karyssa Fisher the ones we’ve lost. We wish we could have said we were told. Usually, we something, or that we may have see some important staff mem- ber walk in with a single piece of treated them better. We wish we paper. Now, my class has grown to reached out more. It’s all we think despise this piece of paper because about. And eventually, the ones we lost find their way into our dreams. it’s the same thing each year now. Then we find ourselves waking up Anytime we see one of the staff members walk in with that familiar the next morning with a jolt, not being able to think clearly the rest demeanor, we already know what is about to happen. We are told that of the day. My class graduates next year. I this isn’t normal. The saddest part think about this part a lot because I about that is that it’s become our know that this would be something new normal; we now expect it to that is bound to come up. happen each year. When we’re up there thinking Parents of students who have about how we made it, we’ll also been going through this may have be thinking about the ones who a hard time understanding it. didn’t. They may not know what is going We will carry our memory of through their child’s mind. Don’t them with us for a long time. worry, because we don’t know Karyssa Fisher is a junior at either. I can barely find the words to write about it. The kind of effect Hermiston High School. 80489 Hwy 395 N Hermiston www.oregontrailvet.com PLACE YOUR AD HERE! Thanks to modern technology and industry-leading expertise, Phonak is able to bring you the best possible solutions for your hearing needs Contact Audra at 541.564.4538 Today! If interested in him please go to fuzzballrescue.com and fill out an application. 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