|
|
|
The views expressed on this page are
solely
those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the views of County
News Online
|
|
Prevention Action Alliance
Know! You Are Not Alone
May is Mental Health Month and the National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI) is spreading the message: You Are Not Alone. Now more than ever,
people have to know they’re not alone. There is an especially urgent
need to raise awareness on the importance of mental health as anxiety,
depression, and thoughts of suicide have skyrocketed since the onset of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we are all aware, sheltering-in-place and social distancing went
into effect to reduce human contact and slow the spread of the virus.
According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA), while these efforts have been successful in
flattening the curve, they have unfortunately brought about some
devastating secondary consequences that increase the risk for
depression and suicide, including:
Economic stress
Social isolation
Barriers to mental health treatment
Illness and medical problems
Outcomes of national anxiety
Increase in health care professional suicide rates
Increase in firearm sales (number one method of suicide in the U.S.)
It is not human nature to isolate or socially distance oneself from
others. Fortunately, many people are reaching out for help. One
resource people are turning to is the Disaster Distress Helpline, a
national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for
people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural
or human-caused disaster. According to a CNN report, in March 2020, the
helpline saw a 338% increase in call volume compared with February
2020. And compared to last year for the month of March, they had an
891% increase of calls.
Suicide has been on the rise for the past two decades. It is the second
leading cause of death among 15 to 24-year-olds and more than 9.4
million adults in the United States report having had serious thoughts
of suicide within the past 12 months. Keep in mind, these numbers are
prior to the various economic, psychological, and health-associated
changes that COVID-19 has introduced.
Warning Signs to Look for
Some are calling this pandemic the perfect storm for increased suicides
because so many negative factors are striking all at once. The risk is
even higher for those already dealing with mental health issues. It is
critically important to check in on your children regularly, as well as
other family members and friends regarding their mental well-being. You
must also take into consideration your own mental health, and be aware
of the warning signs of suicide. If someone you know is showing one or
more of the following behaviors, he or she may be thinking about
suicide. Do not ignore these warning signs. Get help immediately.
Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself
Looking for a way to kill oneself
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Talking about being a burden to others
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
Acting anxious or agitated
Behaving recklessly
Sleeping too little or too much
Withdrawing or feeling isolated
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
Displaying extreme mood swings
Remember, you are not alone. If you or someone you know needs help,
please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
(8255). Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. Or, get help from the Crisis Text Line by texting 4hope to
741 741 or call the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Services’ COVID CareLine at 1-800-720-9616.
If you think someone is in immediate danger, do not leave that person alone—stay there and call 911.
For more information visit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
|
|
|
|
