Published in the Westchester Guardian, May 2011
When the pain becomes unbearable and as the train approaches why do some contemplate and jump? Why do some contemplate and never jump and why are others able to quickly move on in life?
The statistics are grim and getting worse. The research is poor, the scientific understanding in next to nil. The stigma is only now getting some mild reprieve. In 2008 it was number 11 of causes of death and rising. Today, 20% will lose a family member to suicide and 60% will have a friend or co-worker who submitted.
These numbers provided by Mr. Robert Gebbia of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, www.afsp.org only get worse when looked upon more deeply:
- Over 34,000 people in the U.S. die every year from suicide. A suicide every 15 minutes, that’s almost 90 Americans every day.
- Ninety per cent have a psychiatric disorder at time of death
- There are 4 male suicides to every female, but three times as many females attempt versus males.
- For every suicide there are estimated 8 – 25 attempts.
- Worldwide, approximately, one million people die by suicide, annually.
Today, Mr. Gebbia views the understanding of suicide on the same level alcoholism was 20-30 years ago, a human failing, a weakness of character not a disease. It is a subject never discussed; only whispered behind closed doors like cancer 100 years ago or more recently HIV/Aids. We just do not understand suicide in its proper context, he says.
Today, the AFSP is fighting the difficult trend within the components of research, education, and advocacy. Their major drive is the Out of Darkness Overnight Walk, June 5th & 6th, with 223 walks throughout the country, 78,000 people participating walking from sunset to sunrise. The walks which did not start until 2002 have grown dramatically. In NYC, the route is 18 miles with plenty of aid & relief stations along the way, cyclist to keep tabs on walkers, as well as podiatrists and meals served at midnight.
Mr. Gebbia started working with the AFSP 12 years ago. He has seen some changes in the way suicide is perceived as well as seeing the non-profit organization grow. As a grass roots organization, they now have 48 chapters, started by individuals such as Josephine Vennewald who lost a daughter 15 years ago. These chapters outreach, providing among other things information, training and education for high schools, teachers etc.
For the future, Robert would like to see a 10% decrease in the suicide rate which has increased slightly over the last 5 years and an increase in funding and outreach and greater attention by public services, primary care and mental health care providers. He bemoans the lack of statistics for suicide attempts and estimates that 700,000 people annually attempt suicide with another one million in need of medical attention. More aggressive protocol is needed in places like emergency rooms, but the Army has done major studies in understanding and dealing with suicide.
“There was no warning signs, no indications. Nothing was spoken”, Josephine Vennewald says of her daughter’s suicide 15 years ago at the age of 21. She was “completely blindsided; you never know until it happens”. Something had to be done to turn this tragedy into something beside pain, so she reached outward to prevent this from happening to others, strangers, who have this inner desolation inside there hearts, their souls and to prevent others who may “jump” to escape their pain.
Doing something was to create an AFSP chapter in New Jersey. The Vennewalds’, who never thought of hiding the truth, meet monthly at St. Francis Church, as “Survivors of Suicide”, helping others including the priest who lost a brother to suicide. There’ve been positive results and a greater openness in schools and religious institutions. They have a growing quilt of those who are gone. A quilt of names and poems.
As a teacher for over ten years, Deana Santoro, Heather’s cousin, has seen signs of improvement in preventing and dealing with suicides. They tell family members to be good listeners, notice changes in scheduling, behavior, etc. There is more awareness and more are reaching out, joining or starting support groups, helping others – strangers coming together and sharing on this path of life. They tell survivors not to blame themselves and keep busy. She will be participating in the overnight walk.
Everything seemed to crash at the same time for Noah Weinbaum now thirty-two. Due to depression, he lost his best friend, his job and started overeating dramatically in a four month span. With thoughts of suicide, he did not want his three young nieces to say, “They once had an uncle”. He sought help with the dire situation; first with his mom, a therapist and then a psychiatrist. Through therapy and anti-depressants, Noah regained some footing on life. Now, he has a strong relationship with members of his family, lost weight and is within three months of obtaining a Medical Assistant License, with a 4.0 GPA.
Many things have gone well for Noah. He is fortunate to have assets many do not possess, like a strong family bond, access to professional help, proper diagnosis with positive reaction to medications. Mental Illness knows no boundaries. We have progressed much in the last generation, but science is still in its infancy and many are ashamed of the umbrella of diseases that are mental illness.
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Glenn Slaby Blog