Suicide Prevention

I love September, it is the gateway month to fall and the holiday season (who doesn’t love Reese's pumpkins, and trees, and all the goodies we will be ingesting from now until the new year!). I’ve already had plenty of pumpkin spice cold brews, I just got a box of pumpkin pancake mix, and booked a weekend in the mountains. I am ready for Autumn!!! While my attention and energy are drawn to the change in season, the shorter days, cooler mornings, and a hint of fall foliage, I am also reminded that September is Suicide Awareness Month. 

As someone who has dedicated their career to helping those struggling with mental health issues, I wanted to take a moment to share my experiences with suicide and suicidality. I hope this particular post brings attention and awareness to this issue. 

Right out of college, I went to work for a local rape crisis and domestic violence shelter. I had just graduated with my bachelors in psychology and women’s studies. I was ready to change the world and as a feminist, I was ready to stick it to the man! I thought the shelter would be a great place to utilize the degrees I had just earned. After completing our intensive training I took my first shift as a crisis hotline responder. I worked the 11 PM - 7 AM shift (for anyone who knows me well, you know what a nightmare that was since I’ve been going to bed at 9 PM for most of my life). In the early morning hours I received my first call. The caller was a woman who was hallucinating and threatening to take her life. I had to call police to do a welfare check on her while she stayed on the phone with me. What a way to start your first night on the job!

Over the past 30 years, I don’t know how many welfare checks I’ve initiated through my work. Some have saved lives, some have only ended in pain for surviving families and loved ones.

When I first started doing case management in higher ed my role was to reach out to students who were struggling, I provided them with crisis intervention, support, and resources. One day a young woman I had outreached came to the office. She was crying and kept asking me why I had reached out to her on that day. I advised her that I cared about whatever she was going through and that I was there to help and support her. She kept asking me why I would care about her in particular, I remember telling her that I cared about all of the students and wanted to make sure they were ok. As it turns out, that young woman confided in me and shared she had every intention of ending her life that day. Together, we called her parents and she voluntarily checked in to a behavioral health facility for further evaluation an treatment. Months later I received and email from her, thanking me for caring and letting me know that if I had not reached out to her that day she would not be here. That interaction was 20 years ago, and it has left a lasting impression on me. 

Today, September 10th, is World Suicide Awareness Day. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has opportunities to donate to the work they are doing to improve support services and bring about awareness in identifying and helping individuals who may be feeling suicidal. Please consider making a donation to their efforts in honor of Suicide Awareness Month. If you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide, NAMI has a 24-hour crisis hotline accessible to anyone in need. The national suicide prevention hotline is 988 and can be reached by calling or texting. Colorado also has a crisis hotline and walk-in services, just text “TALK” to 38255.

To make a donation to NAMI, click here to be directed to their website.

When I am feeling down or depressed, I love diffusing citrus essential oils such as Wild Orange, Neroli, or Grapefruit. Citrus oils are great for uplifting us from sadness. Want to learn more about essential oils and aromatherapy to enhance your mood and help improve symptoms of depression and / or anxiety? Schedule your free consultation today!

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