EDITORIAL: Suicide doesn’t take summer vacations

Posted 7/21/16

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy,” as the George Gershwin song says.

Unfortunately, for some, that is far from the truth. Summer can be a time of sadness or desperation as well.

In the last three weeks, three Park County men …

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EDITORIAL: Suicide doesn’t take summer vacations

Posted

It’s the height of summer, and for many, life seems pretty carefree.

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy,” as the George Gershwin song says.

Unfortunately, for some, that is far from the truth. Summer can be a time of sadness or desperation as well.

In the last three weeks, three Park County men threatened or attempted suicide, one each in or near Powell, Cody and Meeteetse. Tragically, one of the men did end his life.

Wyoming has the fourth highest suicide rate in the nation, with 19.3 suicides annually per 100,000 people. That actually represents an improvement; in 2010, Wyoming had the highest suicide rate in the nation, at 23.2 suicides per 100,000 people.

Other Western states also have high suicide rates, earning the West the reputation of “suicide belt.” Neighboring Montana currently stands at No. 2 nationwide, with 20.5 suicides per 100,000 people.

Nationally, the average suicide rate is 12.93 per 100,000, and men die by suicide 3.5 times more often than women, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, with 42,773 people taking their own lives each year. For every person who dies of suicide, 25 suicides are attempted, the foundation said.

For family or friends of someone who may be suicidal, it’s often difficult to know whether to be truly concerned.

Rachel Rodriguez Williams, community prevention professional for Park County, recently provided the following red-flag signs. A person could be at risk for suicide if they:

People at risk for suicide may be experiencing legal or financial problems, or they may have lost a loved one through death, or they may have been recently divorced. They may suffer from a chronic illness.

Suicidal teenagers may become disinterested in extracurricular activities or have problems at work or school, poor grades or behavior issues.

However, some of the signs that someone may be at risk for suicide can occur when someone is just having a bad day. To be sure, ask the person if they are considering suicide, Rodriguez Williams said.

When talking to someone who is feeling suicidal:

For more information, contact the Prevention Management Organization of Park County. The organization is dedicated to preventing suicide, and it recently opened a new office at 1008 13th St., in Cody’s City Hall. They can be reached at 307-578-7029.

Help and more information also are available on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s website, afsp.org. The foundation offers help for people considering suicide, and for people who are concerned about friends or loved ones.

The  Park County Suicide Prevention Alliance is working to lower the incidence of suicide in the county. The alliance will meet at noon on Monday at the Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce. Lunch will be provided, and visitors are welcome. RSVP by calling 307-578-7029.

When someone considers suicide, they are feeling a tremendous amount of pain and suffering. They feel so much despair that they can’t imagine feeling better. But there is hope on the other side — they just need help to find it.

If we are prepared, we can be their link to finding the resources that can help them get past the sadness instead of ending their lives.

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