Out of the Darkness Community Walk along downtown canal planned for September 22
September 4, 2007
Contact: Todd Harper
Phone: 317-630-7808
Pager: 317-310-5972
Indianapolis, September 4, 2007 - Suicide ranks as one of the five leading causes of death for all Americans age 15-54. For Hoosiers age 15-19, suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Even more troubling, suicide attempts among Hoosier teens have increased 3 percent since 2003, up from 6.6 percent to 9.6 percent.
On Saturday, September 22, Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis and Midtown Community Mental Health Center (a division of Wishard Health Services), along with sponsors St. Vincent Stress Center, First Indiana Bank and the Jason Foundation, 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.
"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."
Each year it is estimated that 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. More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness, most often depression.
"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
- Daring and risk-taking behavior
- Personality changes (i.e. withdrawal, aggression, moodiness)
- Depression
- Giving away prized possessions and a lack of interest in the future
The 3-mile walk will start at the White River State Park Visitor's Center, 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 8:30 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 program, 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.
St. Vincent Stress Center offers a wide variety of services from programs for stress-related illnesses to drug and alcohol addictions. St. Vincent Stress Center provides services for children, young adults, adults and older adults.
Mental Health America of Greater Indianapolis 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.