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Community Corner

Patch Tips: How to Prevent Suicide

The issue has touched many in the Evanston community. Here's some advice on identifying warning signs.

From the pipe bomb explosion in Fitzsimmons Park in September to the Northwestern graduate student’s death on Christmas Day, suicide was a major issue last year in Evanston.  In the wake of these tragedies, residents should be aware of how to identify a suicidal friend or family member.

Although there are no statistics regarding suicides specifically in Evanston, according to the Illinois Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention, more than 1,000 Illinois residents die by suicide each year.  And the adolescent suicide rate is soaring.  In recent years, it has fluctuated between the second and third leading cause of adolescent deaths in Illinois.

But suicide can be prevented.  According to Bethany Price, PhD, psychologist, NorthShore University HealthSystem Medical Group, some of the most common warning signs are withdrawal from previous enjoyable activities, a general sense of feeling down, isolation, loss of health, and common losses such as loss of job, home, money, and status. 

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“When people stop including thoughts of future plans or begin acting hopeless in their conversations, these are signs associated with suicide risks,” said Price. 

People who suspect a friend or family member is suicidal should take it seriously.

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“I think it’s very important that people aren’t afraid to ask directly if someone is thinking of suicide,” said Price.

Price suggests speaking to a potential suicide victim very openly, even asking questions such as “have you thought about suicide?”

If suicide risk is acute, she recommends calling 911 or bringing the person to the emergency room immediately for an evaluation.  The American Psychological Association has guidelines for helping people with suicidal thoughts when they come to the ER.

For people who want to stay active with suicide prevention organizations, there are some opportunities nearby. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is one of a few national organizations that hosts community fundraisers.  One of the group’s branches is located in Evanston. 

AFSP sponsors local fundraisers called Out of the Darkness community walks.  Evanston residents raise money for AFSP both through these walks and the Chicago Marathon. 

Northwestern University Senior Olivia Green is one Evanston resident doing whatever she can to raise money for the cause.  Green ran with the Chicago chapter of AFSP in the Chicago Marathon and was the second top earner with a total of $1,276.

“I have had two very close friends die by suicide,” said Green.  “I’m not home when they do the out of the darkness community walk in Boston for Tommy Fuss, my friend who passed away, but I still wanted to be apart of that endeavor.”

But Green, along with Price, realizes that raising money is not enough. 

“These community walks are a way to make this national organization local,” said Green.  “I think it’s important not to just raise funds for them, but also to talk about suicide prevention.  Like on my fundraising page, I did ask for donations, but I also asked people to go to the AFSP website and just learn more about suicide prevention.”

To find out more information about AFSP events in the Chicago area visit their website:http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_ID=B529AEF5-A0A6-B6D1-EE0346E5C0A75683

If you or a friend is suicidal and in need of immediate help please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-TALK (8255).

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