James Donaldson on Mental Health – Suicide Among Women: A Growing National Tragedy

James Donaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. But, women suffer just as much, if not more!

Having gone through a recent bout of depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle  

PORTLAND (WGME) — Suicide rates have increased in nearly every state from 1999 to 2016.

Women, in particular, are dying by suicide in greater numbers.

A North Yarmouth teacher, Kristin Westra was missing for days. Her family and friends were frantic.

“My colleague said, ‘Well, Kristin’s not going to be here for the next two days, she called,’ and my stomach dropped, it instantly dropped,” friend Tammy Drew-Hoidal said. “I knew something was terribly wrong.”

Westra’s body was later found in the woods.

A Maine mother, 25-year-old Heidi McGovern, stepped in front of a tractor-trailer on I-95 in Penobscot County while holding her two-year-old son. He survived, but she did not.

Fashion designer Kate Spade, who created iconic handbags popular both nationally and internationally, was found hanging in her Manhattan apartment.

All three, died by suicide.

The evidence is growing of national tragedy.

“Yes, actually, the rate of suicide has increased in women largely because there’s a larger number of attempts of suicide naturally because of an increase in attempts, there will be an increase in deaths,” Maine Behavioral Healthcare Psychiatrist Dr. Linda Durst said.

A recent study by the CDC shows the national suicide rate is rising the fastest among women.

As of 2016, the rate of suicide by women doubled from three to six per 100,000 deaths.

The CDC says over half of people who have died by suicide have no history of mental illness.

“Usually people think about it for a fairly long time and it’s a number of circumstances that might at the moment put them over the edge,” Dr. Durst said.

So why more women?

Dr. Durst says there are a number of factors.

“There’s a lot of stressors that are facing women these days,” Dr. Durst said. “It’s really, you can have it all, but in a way, it’s can you do it all well. And I think women feel especially the pressure of having to do it all.”

The CDC says suicide rates are higher in women age 45-64.

Dr. Durst says there is an increase in divorce among women who are older, which can add more stress, and there’s also the “empty nest.”

“I think women feel they had a sense of purpose up to a certain point, and when their family has disbanded, they may feel what do I have, do I have any purpose any longer,” Dr. Durst said.

Still, none of those possible causes is a “one size fits all.”

Dr. Durst says it may be very hard for loved ones to detect how much someone is suffering, especially because suicidal thoughts are not rational.

“You don’t think rationally and you start to believe truly that you would be, your family would be better off without you and so, so it’s unfortunate,” Dr. Durst said. “Not only are you tortured by these thoughts, but you’re feeling that you can’t even share them with anybody.”

And that, says Dr. Durst is the real problem.

We don’t want to talk about it.

“I think we have to deal with our own discomfort in discussing a very uncomfortable topic,” Dr. Durst said. “And that if we could, if we could address it more matter-of-factly, in a more caring way, you can make an impact.”

An impact in the broader sense, and maybe for someone you love.

“I think what we have to normalize rather than the fact that people are dying by suicide, is the discussion around suicide,” Dr. Durst said. “So if we can help people feel comfortable in raising the issue, we absolutely can prevent deaths.”

It is entirely possible to miss the signs and symptoms of a loved one considering suicide, especially because it may be a spontaneous decision.

Signs can include:

• Increased isolation
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Extreme mood swings
• Talking about wanting to die

Mental health professionals say it’s important to help reduce the shame and stigma attached to suicide, so more people seek help.

Here is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number, 1-800-273-8255.

James Donaldson on Mental Health – ‘No One Talks About Suicide’

James Donaldson notes: I am turning more and more of my time and efforts towards mental health issues, especially pertaining to our young people and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle  

By Kali Venable | kvenable@vicad.com

Lisa Rosales’ son had his last birthday five years ago, though she talks about it as if it were yesterday.

 

Rosales, 50, lost her son, Quintin Moore, to suicide on his 20th birthday. She was among many who attended Victoria’s first Out of Darkness walk at Riverside Park Saturday, on a mission to raise awareness and prevent suicide.

 

The Crossroads Home Health nurse said she wants schools to start teaching kids about suicide awareness and mental health. She often thinks about how much her son’s death affected her 10-year-old granddaughter, Camila Resendiz, who stood by her side at the walk.

“It was really hard on her. When she came to visit, she would always run right past everyone else to Quintin because he would play with her,” Rosales said. “Now we have children taking their lives, so I think they need presentations in school. A lot of kids might not have a support system at home; school should be where they can find it,” Rosales said.

 

One Texan dies by suicide every three hours, according to statistics from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In Texas, suicide rates have been increasing during the last decade. Suicide is now the third-leading cause of death for ages 10 to 14 and the second-leading cause of death for ages 15 to 34, statistics showed.

 

“It is no longer just the middle-aged man,” said Out of Darkness volunteer Linda Acosta.

Acosta, 53, also wants schools to start teaching students about mental health issues. The Victoria resident works as a community health worker at Houston House Apartments, where she said she sees mental health issues firsthand. Acosta, who attempted suicide as a teen, said she wants more outreach for children.

 

“My goal is for the school board to talk about it, but they don’t want to talk about it,” Acosta said. “(The kids) are crying out.”

 

Acosta started volunteering for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention two years ago when the organization first came to Victoria to recruit volunteers to organize a community walk. She said she wanted to volunteer so she could support families and better understand their loss.

 

“There are a lot of resources, but there’s a stigma of not talking about it,” Acosta added.

Rosales, of Hallettsville, started going to Out of Darkness walks in San Antonio after Quintin died. She said she is glad there is now one closer by.

 

“I was shocked when I first started going to the walks,” Rosales said. “There are thousands of people at the one in San Antonio, but no one talks about suicide.”

Rosales said she knew Quintin struggled with depression but never imagined that he would take his own life. When people used to ask her how he died, she admits that she would whisper ‘suicide.’

 

“I’d whisper because there is a stigma, but now I feel like it has to be talked about for change to come about,” Rosales said. “If you’re feeling depressed, that is nothing to be ashamed about.”

Kali Venable is a public safety reporter for the Victoria Advocate. She can be reached at 361-580-6558 or at kvenable@vicad.com.

James Donaldson on Mental Health – Event Aims to End Stigma Around Mental Health Issues of First Responders

James Donaldson notes: I am turning more and more of my time and efforts towards mental health issues, especially pertaining to our young people and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle 

CONCORD, N.H. —

First responders have high-stress, emotionally taxing jobs, making them particularly at risk for suicide, and mental health experts are working to get them the care they need.

An event Monday in Concord was focused on first responders and mental illness. Derry firefighter Todd Donovan said he has suffered from depression most of his life and has attempted suicide several times.

“There is a certain amount of pressure not to talk about your mental illness, especially if you don’t think you have one,” Donovan said.

With the help of his family, Donovan got the treatment he needed, and he now travels across the state to speak with first responders.

“First responders are three times more likely to die by suicide than by in-the-line-of-duty deaths,” he said.

The state fire academy hosted the event to discuss the stigma that surrounds mental illness and emphasize the importance of getting help.

“We want to be able to teach firefighters, EMTs and paramedics that their mental wellness is just as important as not getting caught in a building collapse or not being burned by fire or making sure they are safe on the roadways,” said Ann Duckless, community educator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Officials said suicide rates are increasing because of post-traumatic stress disorder. Experts said recognizing the signs and symptoms early can save someone’s life.

“We are losing too many lives because people are feeling disconnected, hopeless and lonely,” said Deborah Pendergast, director of the state Division of Fire Standards and Training and Emergency Medical Services.

Duckless is working with other mental health workers to develop peer-to-peer support groups within fire departments. She said those groups would let first responders who are seeking help for mental illness confide in someone they trust.

Fire departments that are interested in learning more about the peer-to-peer programs are encouraged to call the fire academy in Concord.

Anyone who needs help can get immediate support from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 800-273-8255 or by visiting suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

James Donaldson on Mental Health – Generation Z Reported the Most Mental Health Problems, and Gun Violence is the Biggest Stressor

James Donaldson notes: I am turning more and more of my time and efforts towards mental health issues, especially pertaining to our young people and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle 

By Andrea Diaz, CNN

We can’t avoid stress, but here’s how to manage it.

(CNN)Many members of Generation Z — young people between 15 and 21 — have taken more active roles in political activism this year, and a new survey indicates that the state of the nation is to blame for this generation’s stress levels.

As gun violence, sexual assault claims and immigration dominate the 2018 news cycle, the American Psychological Association’s annual Stress in America survey says that such issues are the main cause of stress among young adults.

The survey, released Tuesday, was conducted among 3,459 people 18 and older, and it included interviews with 300 teenagers ages 15 to 17. It measures attitudes and perception of stress to identify the leading sources of stress among the general public.

School safety is a top concern

Gun violence is the top source of stress across all generations, the survey said. About 75% of Gen Z reported mass shootings as a significant source of stress, and 72% said the same about school shootings.

About 56% of those who are in school say they experience stress when considering the possibility of a school shooting, the survey says.

School shootings are also a top concern for parents, the survey says, as 74% fear one or the possibility of one.

Doctors release new recommendations to reduce gun violence

In comparison, 73% of millennials who took the survey stress about school shootings and 69% about mass shootings. As for Gen Xers and baby boomers, 58% expressed concern over mass shootings, and about the same percentage of stress over school shootings.

School security measures have helped reduce stress levels in 37% of students interviewed, but 22% feel that the measures have increased their stress levels; 41% say that they have not affected their stress levels, the report adds.

“The pressures facing Generation Z are different from those that faced older generations at the same age. For example, mass shootings simply did not happen with the same scale and frequency when I was in school,” said Arthur Evans, a psychologist, and CEO of the American Psychological Association.

This is the 12th year the association has conducted the stress survey as part of its Mind/Body Health Campaign, and it’s the first year the survey has asked about gun violence, spokeswoman Sophie Bethune said.

Stressed about the country

In order to direct the association’s focus on Gen Z, Evans said, it added questions on a range of issues such as immigration, climate change, rising suicide rates and reports of sexual harassment or abuse.

Sixty-eight percent of people between the ages 18 and 21 expressed concern for the state of the nation, but the study found this generation to be least likely to run to the polls in November, with just 54% saying they will vote.

The survey says that number is well below the overall average of 7 in 10 adults from all generations who plan to vote in the 2018 midterm elections.

Still, 57% of Gen Z believed the cases of separation and deportation of immigrant families in the United States to be a significant source of stress, in comparison to 45% of adults overall.

Too much bad news can make you sick

Widespread reports of sexual harassment or abuse have also played a big role in young adults’ stress levels, as 53% blamed this issue for their stress. Only 39% of adults overall say the same.

As for climate change, 58% of Gen Z says it’s a significant source of stress, in comparison with 51% of adults overall.

Evans attributes these results to the fact that certain regions of a young adult’s brain are still maturing and have not developed enough to handle stress the same way adults do.

“While young people are facing many of the same issues that older adults face, they have not yet had the life experiences that many older adults have had, such as practice responding to and coping with a broad range of stressors,” he said.

Reporting a mental problem

Although 62% of Generation Z said rising suicide rates are also a source of stress, compared with 44% of adults overall, the survey says these young people are more likely to report mental health conditions than any other generation.

About 37% of young adults reported receiving help or treatment from mental health professionals, and half feel that they do enough to manage their stress.

Only 35% of millennials, 26% of Gen Xers and 22% of baby boomers reported to receiving help, treatment or therapy for mental health.

“The fact that more Gen Z individuals than adults in other generations said that they thought their mental health was fair or poor is concerning,” Evans said. “However, this could also be interpreted as a positive sign. This generation may be more tuned into recognizing issues with their mental health than older generations.”

Teens: This is how social media affects your brain

The report says that public figures’ openness about their mental health challenges could be a reason why this generation is speaking out more, and their use of social media could be another key factor.

“It’s clear that social media is an enormous part of Gen Zs’ lives, and for more than half of them (55%), it provides a feeling of support,” the report says.

But social media also plays a negative role, the report claims; 45% said they feel judged on the social platforms, and 38% reported feeling bad about themselves due to the use of social media.

One positive outcome in the report was that 75% of the overall participants said they feel hopeful about their future.

“We hope that people understand that channeling tension, feelings of dissatisfaction and uncertainty toward something that is meaningful and productive is a healthy approach to managing stress,” Evans said. “Taking active steps to address your concerns can lessen feelings of stress.”

James Donaldson on Mental Health – Veteran’s Suicide Prevention Forum Aims to Prevent Unnecessary Deaths

James Donaldson notes: As I’m slowly getting on top of my physical health issues, I am turning more and more of my time and efforts towards mental health issues, especially pertaining to our young people and student-athletes.

Having gone through a recent bout of depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle  

 

The Brainerd Veterans Affairs Clinic hosted a veteran mental health and suicide awareness forum to help veterans, family members, friends and community partners save lives.

The free event Thursday, Aug. 23, was not limited to veterans but welcomed anyone interested in suicide prevention.

“The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) put out a report that deaths by suicide is up 25 percent nationally and 40 percent in Minnesota, so that’s another reason why we’re using this public health approach,” said Laura Kunstleben, suicide prevention outreach specialist at the St. Cloud VA Health Care System.

Jeremy Maurstad is the acting director of mental health at the St. Cloud VA. Together with Kunstleben and others, they gave a suicide prevention presentation at the Brainerd VA.

“The community as a whole has experienced kind of an elevated rate of suicide over the last year or so, so this is just really our VA’s effort to come in and support veterans and their families, and provide some resources to really try and head that off and make a difference here,” he said.

Suicide awareness and prevention literature was available for the taking at Thursday’s forum, including free firearm locks that may deter suicide by requiring a person to first unlock a firearm.

“We want people to know that the VA has tremendous resources for mental health services and substance abuse services,” Maurstad said. “The veterans rate of successful suicide is higher than the civilian rate although the civilian rate is on a trajectory that’s increasing all the time.”

Signs of suicidal thinking to recognize include: hopelessness or helplessness; anxiety, agitation, sleeplessness or mood swings; feeling like there’s no reason to live; rage or anger; engaging in risky activities without thinking; alcohol or drug abuse; and withdrawing from friends and family.

“It’s estimated that about 10 million people a year attempt suicide, so every 35 seconds someone is attempting, and that’s not including the people who are thinking about it who are not attempting or who have gone through with it,” Kunstleben said as part of her presentation.

She said situational clues that someone may be considering suicide include scenarios such as being fired from a job or expelled from school; loss of any major relationship in a person’s life like a death of a friend, spouse or child; or a diagnosis of a severe or terminal illness, she said.

“More than 43,000 people die by suicide every year in the U.S. It’s our 10th-leading cause of death, so every 12.3 minutes someone dies by suicide—that’s veterans and nonveterans,” Kunstleben said.

Her tips for dealing with someone suspected of being suicidal is if in doubt, do not wait to talk to the person in question. If the person is reluctant, then be persistent. Talk to the person privately. Allow the person to talk freely. Have suicide prevention resources handy, such as the VA.

According to Kunstleben, men die by suicide four times more often than women, but women attempt suicide more. Gender disparity is partly attributed by the means in which suicide is attempted or done; men often use firearms, which are more effective than, say, sleeping pills.

“About 18 percent of all the deaths by suicide are veterans, and veterans are more likely to use firearms. The statistics show that about 50 percent of the people who die by suicide die using a firearm. For veterans, it goes up to 67 percent,” she said.

“What is it about firearms? Well, we know veterans have learned to use firearms, which are highly lethal, fast and irreversible … so we at the VA have been tasked to hand out these gun locks that have the (Veterans) Crisis Line number on them.”

Veterans and their supporters were reminded by Maurstad and Kunstleben if warning signs are noticed, one should call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 (and press 1), chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or text 838255 for confidential support around the clock.

“The people who they’ve interviewed who have survived serious suicide attempts will tell you they only spent five minutes from the time they thought about it to when they tried it, so these (free) firearm locks should slow someone down,” Kunstleben said.

“And a lot of times when people die by suicide, they’re under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and we know what that does to a person. It makes them unable to think clearly and makes them do things that they wouldn’t do if they weren’t under the influence.”

James Donaldson on Mental Health – Guns End More Lives by Suicide Than Murder

James Donaldson notes: I am turning more and more of my time and efforts towards mental health issues, especially pertaining to our young people and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle 

FRIDAY, Nov. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Shootings make the headlines, yet the American public doesn’t know that guns take more lives by suicide than by homicide, a new study reveals.

In the United States, suicide is twice as common as murder, and suicide by firearm is more common than homicide by firearm, the researchers reported.

However, the new “research indicates that in the scope of violent death, the majority of U.S. adults don’t know how people are dying,” said study author Erin Morgan. She’s a doctoral student with the University of Washington School of Public Health’s department of epidemiology, in Seattle.

More Americans kill themselves with guns than kill others, Morgan said. This fact should give people who have guns second thoughts about how guns are stored and if they should keep firearms at all, she added.

To find out how people think about gun deaths, Morgan and her colleagues used data from the 2015 National Firearms Survey of nearly 4,000 U.S. adults who were asked to rank causes of violent death over the past year. The researchers compared those responses with official state death counts.

The investigators found that although suicide was more common than homicide in all the states, most people thought the opposite.

“The inconsistency between the true causes and what the public perceives to be frequent causes of death indicates a gap in knowledge, and a place where additional education can be helpful,” Morgan said in a university news release.

When people think murder is the top risk, they might buy a gun to protect themselves. Without understanding the high risk of suicide, they might not store it safely, the researchers added.

The real nature of the risk of gun deaths needs to be promoted by the media and the entertainment industry, Morgan said.

“By having mass media and other communication mechanisms enable further discussions of suicide, we, as a society, can have a more informed conversation about suicide prevention,” she explained.

The study authors want to learn more about how people form their opinions on gun violence so they can find ways to change these perceptions.

“We know that this is a mixture of mass and individual communication, but what really leads people to draw the conclusions that they do? If people think that the rate of homicide is really high because that’s what is shown on the news and on fictional TV shows, then these are opportunities to start to portray a more realistic picture of what’s happening,” Morgan concluded.

The study was published Oct. 30 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

More information

Visit the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health for more on suicide.

SOURCE: University of Washington, news release, Oct. 30, 2018

James Donaldson on Mental Health – Focus on Men’s Mental Health in N(M)ovember

James Donaldson notes: I am turning more and more of my time and efforts towards mental health issues, especially pertaining to our young people and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of depression and suicidal thoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

 

Penny Sitler

Welcome to Movember, so named by the Movember Foundation, which focuses on men’s health and stopping men from dying too young.

In addition to awareness of testicular and prostate cancer, the website says, “Our fathers, brothers, sons, and friends are dying by suicide. Every minute. Of every day. So we’re creating new approaches in mental health. Designed to work for men.” We know that one in five people in our country experiences a mental health issue each year, and we know that only about 40 percent of those people seek help; 75 percent of suicides nationwide are men. Movember encourages men to “Talk. Ask. Listen. Encourage action. Check-in.” These are pretty simple but powerful suggestions, all very easy to implement. They are about changing the conversation around mental health.https://us.movember.com/mens-health/mental-health

 

Mantherapy.org says, “Working aged men (25-54 years old) account for the largest number of suicide deaths in the U.S. These men are also the least likely to receive any kind of support. They don’t talk about it with their friends. They don’t share with their family. And they sure as heck don’t seek professional treatment. They are the victims of problematic thinking that says mental health disorders are unmanly signs of weakness.” Mental illness is not a sign of weakness, nor is it a character flaw or an indication that someone is defective in any way. It is an illness that happens to affect the brain and it deserves the same attention as cancer, broken bones and heart disease.

Cleveland Cavaliers player Kevin Love, who brought mental health to the forefront of professional sports last February with an article about his personal experiences with depression and anxiety, continues to raise awareness through Schick Hydro’s new series, Locker Room Talk. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and former NBA player Paul Pierce will share their struggles with mental illness while Cavalier Channing Frye will talk about coping with the loss of both parents within weeks of each other. “I am grateful to have been chosen by Schick Hydro to host Locker Room Talk in hopes of shining a light on issues of masculinity that impact all men,” said Kevin Love. “Through this new series, I hope that together, we can inspire all men to embrace their own version of positive masculinity.”

Right here in Licking County, our Suicide Prevention Coalition (LCSPC) grapples with how to get information into the hands of those who need it most. Men from their 20’s through their 60’s represent the majority of suicides locally, mirroring national statistics. Using funds from an Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation grant, we plan a campaign to disseminate prevention messages specific to men where they’re most likely to see them.

I hope you will help by paying attention to the men in your life, never taking signs of depression or anxiety lightly. Signs and symptoms are available on the Mental Health of Licking County’s website. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help for you or someone you care about. We’re here for you!