Local organizations seek to reduce suicides, build awareness
September 26, 2006
Contact: Todd Harper
Phone: 317-630-7808
Pager: 317-310-5972
Indianapolis, September 26, 2006 – Suicide ranks as one of the five leading causes of death for all Americans age 15-54. For Hoosiers age 10-24, suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death and accounts for 13 percent of all injury deaths, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Compared to the national average, suicide rates in Indiana are higher for all age groups, except for senior citizens.
Midtown Community Mental Health Center (a division of Wishard Health Services) and the Mental Health Association in Marion County are joining forces in an awareness campaign to help inform the public about the warning signs of suicide and where to go for help.
“Suicide is preventable. There are resources available that can save lives with immediate intervention anytime day or night,” said Dr. Steve Fekete, medical director, Midtown Community Mental Health Center, and chief of psychiatric services, Wishard Health Services. “For obvious reasons many people find it difficult to discuss suicide, but it is important we address this problem and find ways to help those contemplating suicide get the help they need.”
It is estimated nationally that each year, nearly 1 million Americans make a suicide attempt; 30,000 die by suicide and more than 20 million Americans suffer from depression. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for adults ages 18-65. Additionally, older Americans over the age of 65 account for 20 percent of all suicide deaths. There are more suicides recorded than homicides every year.
“Suicide is the most difficult issue we deal with in mental healthcare,” Dr. Fekete said. “It is critical to pay attention to the warning signs of suicide and, when apparent, get help immediately. It can make the difference between life and death.”
Some of the warning signs of suicide include:
* Verbal statements such as “You’d be better off without me”
* Expressions of hopelessness and/or helplessness
* Previous suicide attempts
* Daring and risk-taking behavior
* Personality changes (i.e. withdrawal, aggression, moodiness)
* Depression
* Giving away prized possessions
* Lack of interest in the future
Through public service announcements, media interviews and a series of special events coinciding with Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 1 through October 7), both Midtown and the Mental Health Association in Marion County are hoping to bring greater awareness to this important issue.
On Saturday, October 14, the Mental Health Association in Marion County and Midtown Community Mental Health Center, along with sponsors St. Vincent Stress Center and Sparkling Image Car Wash are partnering for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Community Walk to help bring greater awareness to the problem of suicide in central Indiana. The 3-mile walk will start at 801 W. Washington Street, downtown near the Canal and will loop around at 11th Street and finish at the NCAA Hall of Champions, 700 West Washington Street. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Go to www.outofthedarkness.org and select Indianapolis for more information. There is no entry fee to participate.
Midtown Community Mental Health Center offers an array of mental health services including severe mental illness and substance abuse treatment, 24-hour emergency services, a detoxification unit, full continuum of care for chronically addicted patients, specialized home- and community-based programs for seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents and a partial-hospitalization program.
The Mental Health Association in Marion County is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health, positively affecting attitudes and perceptions of mental illness and improving the care and treatment of people with mental illness.
There is help out there. Please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), a 24-hour suicide prevention lifeline where trained crisis care professionals are on-call to respond to crisis situations, suicide prevention and intervention, provide information and referral services. Calls are free and confidential.