Good morning; this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator with University of Illinois Extension.
Last week, we discussed the eight dimensions of wellness related to going back to school; it’s important to acknowledge that all of these dimensions are interconnected and an imbalance in one area can greatly affect our mental and emotional state. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Let’s continue the conversation around mental health since September is national suicide prevention month. Do you know the warning signs of suicide and where to go for help? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death among Americans and is preventable.
Suicide doesn’t discriminate based on age, race, ethnicity, or income level. The National Institute of Mental Health divides the warning signs of suicide into three categories: What the individual is talking about, their expressed feelings, and changes in behavior.
Suppose you notice yourself, family, friends, or colleagues shifting conversations to a desire to die, feelings of great guilt or shame, or being a burden to others. These are all potential warning signs of suicide.
Beyond just talking about wanting to die, other warning signs might be expressing feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, feeling trapped, being extremely sad, agitated, full of rage, or communicating unbearable emotional or physical pain.
Lastly, pay attention to abrupt changes in behavior such as extreme mood swings, taking dangerous risks, making a will unexpectedly, giving away possessions, an increase in alcohol consumption, or substance abuse. One symptom that may also be less noticeable is if they start eating or sleeping more or less or withdrawing from family or friends. Do not wait to reach out to them. If any of these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, encourage them to reach out to the 988 suicide or crisis lifeline by calling or texting 988 or texting HELLO to 741741, the crisis text line.
Outside of knowing the warning signs of suicide, we want to be able to help those we care about in emotional distress. The National Institute of Mental Health identifies five ways to help people when experiencing emotional pain.
First, ask. This can sometimes be a hard step, but studies have found asking individuals if they are thinking about taking their own life does not cause more harm or increase the chances of suicide. Other questions you can ask include, “How do you hurt?” and “How can I help?” Do not ever promise to keep their thoughts of suicide a secret.
Second, keep them safe. If the person has a plan and seems to be in imminent danger, then extra steps (like calling for emergency help or driving them to an emergency department) might be necessary.
Third, be there. Practice active listening and let them express their feelings and thoughts. There is research that supports the idea that talking to someone at risk may decrease their risk of suicidal thoughts.
The fourth way to support someone in emotional distress is by helping them connect. Knowing the resources for professional help or a mental health counselor, such as the National Suicide Prevention Hotline or Crisis text line, are simple ways to help. Consider saving both numbers in your phone to make sharing the numbers easy.
The fifth way is to stay connected and follow-up. Keep in touch and check in on someone who has exhibited warning signs. Let them know you care and are there for them..
We can all play a role in helping someone experiencing emotional distress either by just listening, providing them with resources, or taking further action when suicidal warning signs are noticed. This week, reach out to someone you know that is having a hard time and offer your support. Some people have a hard time asking for help and your call may have more of an impact than you might realize.
For more information about these 5 steps and why they are effective, please visit wvik.org/wellness. You can also subscribe to Wellness Wake Up Call today wherever you listen to podcasts and never miss out on these weekly wellness tips.
Thank you for listening! I hope you have a happy and healthy day ahead. Content for this episode was provided by Lisa Peterson, nutrition and wellness educator, with University of Illinois Extension.
Resources:
https://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/
https://988lifeline.org/help-someone-else/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/5-action-steps-for-helping-someone-in-emotional-pain
