Everyone Can Help: Suicide is Preventable

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By Jessica Feagin | Intern and UAB Community Health and Human Services Student

Photo by Liza Summer on Pexels.com

Suicide one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Responsible for nearly 46,000 deaths in 2020, which averages one death every 11 minutes (CDC, 2023). In 2020, suicide was among the top 9 leading causes of death for people 10-64 years old. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 24-34. Suicide and attempts cause serious emotional, physical, and economic impacts. It also affects the health and well-being of friends, loved ones, and the community. Suicide is preventable, and everyone has a role to play in saving lives and building strong individuals .

If someone says that they want to harm themselves, try to stay calm, not panic, and listen. It is possible if someone has chosen to tell you and talk about how they feel, they will let you help them to get assistance and support. According to the NSW, if the person has told you they are thinking about suicide, here are five things you can do:

  • Listen and encourage them to talk about their situation.
  • Show empathy for their situation and take them seriously.
  • Avoid leaving them alone.
    • Possibly try to get them to the hospital or call police if they planning to act.
    • Call the Suicide Prevention Line.
  • Discuss the ways that you can get them help and if they agree to follow up and get the help.
    • Offer to take them to a hospital or a counseling appointment.
  • If the person does not want you to get help, you should advise them that you need to because you are legally obliged to do so as you are concerned for their safety.

An important number everyone should know is 988. It is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This lifeline is available 24 hours a day and provides free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for everyone.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, May 8). Facts About Suicide. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html

Practical strategies and tips for effective support – how do I respond if someone says that they want to kill themselves?. How do I respond if someone says that they want to kill themselves? – Practical strategies and tips for effective support. (n.d.). https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/psychosocial/strategies/Pages/communicating-response.aspx

Relieve Caregiver Stress

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By Jessica Feagin, Intern and UAB Community Health and Human Services Student

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

A caregiver can be anyone who provides help and care to another person in need, such as a sick spouse/partner, disabled child, or an aging relative. Being a caregiver can be rewarding just by the act of being there for a loved one in need; however, sometimes, a shift in emotions can occur. Those emotions can include exhaustion, frustration, sadness, loneliness, and anger. Caregiver stress is the physical and emotional stress of caregiving, which is common (Mayo Clinic, 2022).

Risk for caregiver stress are higher among women. Some of the risks associated are social isolation, lack of coping skills, lack of choice in being a caregiver, depression, and long hours spent caregiving. Being a caregiver can make you so focused on others that you do not realize you are suffering from caregiver stress. Some signs of caregiver stress could be: frequent tiredness, constantly feelings of worry, not getting enough sleep, gaining/losing weight, sadness, frequent headaches, bodily pain, and abusing alcohol or drugs. Too much stress can harm your health and increase your risk of medical problems (Mayo Clinic, 2022).

Here are some tips that were provided by actual caregivers off of social media on how they manage the stress and pressure of caregiving (Sealy et al., 2022):

  • Eat Right
  • Get Enough Sleep
  • Exercise
  • Meditation
  • Do a Little Coloring
  • Have a Healthy Dose of Laughter
  • Get Social
  • Start Journaling
  • Get a Pet
  • Just Say “No”
  • Reclaim Your Identity
  • Prioritize Your Own Medical Needs
  • Ask For and Accept Help

I can relate to some of the tips that were provided. Before my daughter passed in April, I was her mother, nurse, and caregiver. I am a professional nurse at a hospital and had to take care of my daughter at home. She was diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, seizures, quadriplegic, developmentally delayed, and vision and hearing impaired. She also had a tracheostomy, feeding tube, and was oxygen dependent. My husband and I had to provide total care for our daughter. It was vital for us to manage caregiver stress to take care of her and ourselves properly. These tips are helpful, and most importantly, do not be afraid to ask for and accept help. You cannot do it alone! If you have ever had to be a caregiver, professionally or personally, how did you relieve stress and burnout?

 My daughter and I “RIP My Angel”

References

Sealy, K. L., H, L., N., L., Verdone, K., Waguespack, D., Mueller, C., Mckeon, D., Thompson, L., Godwin, D., Riley, A., Goodman, L., Millan, Y., Wong, L., Lyon-Loftus, G. T., & Sautter, N. (2022, April 16). 14 life-changing tips to relieve caregiver stress. CaringBridge. https://www.caringbridge.org/resources/techniques-to-relieve-caregiver-stress/

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, March 22). Practical solutions for caregiver stress. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/caregiver-stress/art-20044784