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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2008)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, August 7, 2008 Chances are someone you know is suicidal – Here’s how to help Suicide is the second lead- ing cause of death among Ore- gonians aged 10 to 24. The Journal of the American Med- ical Association has reported that 90 percent of all suicides occur during or following a de- pressive episode. Awareness, education, and treatment are the keys to suicide prevention. In adolescents, depressive illnesses/anxiety may be dis- guised as, or presented as, eat- ing disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, drug/alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, risk-taking behavior such as reckless driv- ing, unprotected sex, careless- ness when walking across busy streets, on bridges or cliffs. There may be social isolation, running away, constant disobe- dience, getting into trouble with the law, physical or sexual as- saults against others, obnox- ious behavior, failure to care about appearance/hygiene, no sense of self or of values/ morals, difficulty cultivating re- lationships, inability to estab- lish/stick with occupational/ed- ucational goals. Other symptoms may be dizziness, headaches, stom- achaches, neck aches, arms or legs hurting due to muscle ten- sion, digestive disorders. (rul- ing out other medical causes). Persistent unhappiness, negativity, irritability. Uncontrollable anger or out- bursts of rage. Overly self-critical, unwar- ranted guilt, low self-esteem. Inability to concentrate, think straight, remember, or make decisions, possibly resulting in refusal to study in school or an inability (due to depression or attention deficit disorder) to do schoolwork. Slowed or hesitant speech or body movements, or rest- lessness (anxiety). Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities. Low energy, chronic fatigue, sluggishness. Change in appetite, notice- able weight loss or weight gain, or abnormal eating patterns. Chronic worry, excessive fear. Preoccupation with death themes in literature, music, drawings, speaking of death re- peatedly, fascination with guns/knives. Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts. Warning Signs of Suicide in- clude: Ideation (thinking about sui- cide) Substance use or abuse (in- creased or change in sub- stance) Purposelessness (no sense of purpose or belonging) Anger Trapped (feeling like there is no way out) Hopelessness (there is noth- ing to live for, no hope or opti- mism) Withdrawal (from family, friends, work, school, activities, hobbies) Anxiety (restlessness, irri- tability) Recklessness (high risk-tak- ing behavior) Mood disturbance (dramatic change in mood) Talking about suicide. Statements about hopeless- ness, helplessness, or worth- lessness. Preoccupation with death. Suddenly happier, calmer. Loss of interest in things one cares about. Visiting or calling people one cares about. Making arrangements; set- ting one's affairs in order. Giving things away, such as prized possessions. Stigma associated with men- tal illnesses can prevent people from getting help. Your willing- ness to talk about depression and suicide with a friend, family member, or co-worker can be the first step in getting help and preventing suicide. If You See the Warning Signs of Suicide... Begin a dialogue by asking questions. Suicidal thoughts are common with depressive ill- nesses and your willingness to talk about it in a non-judgmen- tal, non-confrontational way can be the help a person needs to seek professional help. Questions okay to ask: “Do you ever feel so badly that you think about suicide?” “Do you have a plan to com- mit suicide or take your life?” “Have you thought about when you would do it (today, to- morrow, next week)?” “Have you thought about what method you would use?” Asking these questions will help you to determine if your friend or family members is in immediate danger, and get help if needed. A suicidal person should see a doctor or mental health professional immediate- ly. Calling 911 or going to a hospital emergency room are also good options to prevent a tragic suicide attempt or death. Calling the National Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK is also a re- source for you or the person you care about for help. Re- member, always take thoughts of or plans for suicide seriously. Never keep a plan for sui- cide a secret. Don’t worry about risking a friendship if you truly feel a life is in danger. It is bet- ter to lose a relationship from violating a confidence than it is to go to a funeral. And most of the time they will come back and thank you for saving their life. Don’t try to minimize prob- lems or shame a person into changing their mind. Your opin- ion of a person’s situation is ir- relevant. Trying to convince a person suffering with a mental illness that it’s not that bad, or that they have everything to live for may only increase their feel- ings of guilt and hopelessness. Reassure them that help is available, that depression is treatable, and that suicidal feel- ings are temporary. Life can get better! If you feel the person isn’t in immediate danger, acknowl- edge the pain as legitimate and offer to work together to get help. Make sure you follow through. This is one instance where you must be tenacious in your follow-up. Help find a doc- tor or a mental health profes- sional, participate in making the first phone call, or go along to the first appointment. If you’re in a position to help, don’t as- sume that your persistence is unwanted or intrusive. Risking your feelings to help save a life is a risk worth taking. For more information see the website at www. save.org. Suicide Hotline 800-784-2433 Columbia County Mental Health 800-294-5211 West Nile found in Baker County The first West Nile virus ac- tivity in Oregon this year has been reported in Baker County. Emilio DeBess DVM, state public health veterinarian and epidemiologist with the Oregon Department of Human Ser- vices State Public Health Divi- sion, said a pool of mosquitoes gathered last week by the Bak- er Valley Vector Control District was found to be positive for the virus. The mosquitoes were ana- lyzed at the Oregon State Uni- versity Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. According to Jim Lunders, a biologist and manager of the Baker Valley Vector Control District, the area has been sprayed with adulticide to kill the adult mosquitoes as part of the routine work of the district. In addition, the district has Please see page 22 State Farm ® Providing Insurance and Financial Services Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710 Bunny Girt, Agent 1229 N. Adair PO Box 543 Cornelius, OR 97113-0543 Bus 503-357-3131 Fax 503-357-9667 bunny.girt.b71g@statefarm.com
