On Memory tree offers support, awareness

Posted on November 15 at 4:54 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Thank You to Karen Gleason for organizing this important event and to Stacy Vogel for sensitively and responsibly reporting on it. It is important for people to recognize that while suicide should never be glamorized, simply talking about it does not create or "plant" the notion in the mind of someone not already at risk for suicide. It is thus critical to be sensitive to the signs and risk factors for sucide and to ASK the vulnerable person if they have been contemplating taking their own life. Lay people, teachers, coworkers, and first responders can all be trained in the best ways to do this using the simple QPR approach--essentially the CPR of suicide.

Training in QPR (stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer) will be taking place on November 20th. You can learn more about enrolling in this two-hour training by visiting the SOS (Survivors of Suicide) webpage at www.gazlo.com/sos. The Memory Tree event as well as an important "National Surivor Day" event on November 22nd are both listed as well. Register NOW.

So remember, if you think someone might be at risk for suicide, be sure to ASK them about it.

People who are in danger of suicide often display warning signs. Warning signs can be reviewed on the webpages identified in the article or by visiting www.sprc.org. The "Suicide Prevention Resource Center" alerts us to some of these warning signs. You can recognize changes in a person's behavior, personality, or mood. Such changes may be a proverbial "cry for help." Signs that a suicidal crisis is imminent can include:

-Talking about suicide or death.

-Making statements like "I wish I were dead" or "I'm going to end it all".

-Less direct verbal cues, including "What's the point of living?" "Soon you won't have to worry about me" and "Who cares if I'm dead, anyway?".

-Uncharacteristically isolating themselves from others in the workplace.

-Expressing feelings that life is meaningless or hopeless.

-Giving away cherished possessions.

-A sudden and unexplained improvement in mood after being depressed or withdrawn.

-Neglect of appearance and hygiene.

-Sudden unexplained deterioration of work or school performance or productivity.

-Staying by themselves rather than hanging out with friends.

-Dropping out of school or social, athletic, and/or community activities.

-Obtaining a weapon or other things that they could use to hurt themselves (such as prescription medications).