To our AFSP Family,
On the heels of the reports of a second high profile loss to suicide, I wanted to take a moment to pull our AFSP family together and offer resources, and support.
We understand that the recent coverage may trigger strong feelings or memories that may be impacting you right now.
If this is the case for you, please take care of the basics for yourself and those around you: breathe, support each other, and practice kindness and self-care, even more than usual; un-plug from the news and/or social media if you need to minimize your exposure to this news coverage and chatter.
We encourage you to make sure you prioritize your mental health right now. Protect your sleep, eat healthy, exercise, stay in treatment if that’s part of your life, and connect to the people and things that encourage you. If things seem more difficult than usual, reach out for help; friends, family, religious leader, anyone you trust. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline is also available 24/7 @ 1-800-273-TALK or text TALK to 741-741.
Along with the extensive (and sometimes graphic and inappropriate) media coverage, the
CDC also issued a significant report evaluating the trend of suicide death in the U.S, so you may see that much of the news reporting is incorporating data from that report.
While we have very important work to do, we need each of you to be in a good, emotionally healthy place to do so. If you need some time to regroup and recharge, take that time. Your wellness is a priority.
Sharing Safely
We ask that if you desire to share about this news, that you share the AFSP national social media posts or posts from other mental health organizations that focus on the hotline number and seeking help – and to not share articles or content that are sensational and graphic in nature. We encourage people to share messages of hope and that encourage seeking of help.
Supporting Safe Reporting in the Media
If you have contacts within the media, please share the Safe Reporting Guideline to help ensure best practices are being used when reporting on suicide. Download the Recommendations
HERE.
Find Local Support
Survivor Outreach Program – You are not alone. Our trained peer support volunteers are all suicide loss survivors who know firsthand how difficult it can be to find your way in the aftermath of a suicide.
CLICK HERE to request a visit with an SOP volunteer.
Mental Health Professionals – If you’re living with depression or another mental health condition, a health professional can help.
CLICK HERE to find a mental health professional in your area.
Thank you for all that you do to help #StopSuicide in our community.
We have a lot of work to do, but together we can save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.
Sincerely,
Crooked Creek by Sue Mattingly 
Thank you, Sue.
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Thank you..
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As a group counselor I assisted individuals to cope with suicide attempt aftermath, depression, bipolar illness and anxiety. One of my favorite group sessions was when I would set my cell on speaker and call the 800-273-TALK line during a group of 12-16 in-patient group members. On only one occasion did that fail. I will tell you about this in a moment because it’s good to know that 1) people use the line and 2) that if this happens it is not “a sign” (you can fill in the blank of what you might think if the call line turned into an auto parts store or you got a busy signal). The sign of one of the aforementioned things happening is that the line is overloaded. Nothing more.
Here’s how the call would go in my group – I’d explain it was a non-emergency call and I was a counselor who had them on speaker phone with my group teaching how easy this call could be and to help get their jitters out by placing the call with them on a dry run sort-of-speak.
The volunteer on the other end assured my clients that they didn’t have to be suicidal to place the call. They might be having troubling thoughts, curiosity about suicide, struggling to find reasons to go on, have a problem they need to talk over, loneliness or severe anxiety to name a few reasons to call. One very sweet sounding woman even told us – it’s okay to call and talk to me about your cats if you would like too. The point was that she and I both knew that suicidal thoughts sometimes have warnings and sometimes they don’t, but more often than not they begin with a restless thought and no one to reach out too that will help the individual buy some time and consider their resources or build resources for coping.
Because you are a curious lot here’s the story on the call that went rogue. On this particular day the Boston Marathon Bombing had just (or recently) taken place. The lines were overwhelmed and it triggered a glitch that put the call onto a non-associated number and in the second call gave us a busy signal.
As a side note – the 1-800-273-TALK line is also the line used by service men and women suffering from PTSD a common reason for a call or triggered thought that things would be better off one was dead. They are equipped to handle PTSD issue of all types.
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