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Raising awareness of teen suicide, one step at a time

posted Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 4:33pm

See more on: Blogs, Health Care, Colorado, Mental Health

I'm Jeff Lamontagne, co-founder of Second Wind Fund, a suicide prevention organization based in Denver, and I'm proud to be partnering with Rocky Mountain PBS as part of their health care initiative to help raise awareness and prevention of teen suicide.

Colorado has the 6th highest suicide rate in the nation. As many as half of kids struggle with suicidal thoughts by age 20, and suicide is the second leading cause of death for our teens.

Here's where Second Wind comes into the picture. By connecting teens to fast, free and reliable help from licensed professionals in their neighborhoods, we have helped thousands of Colorado youth get back on track.

How can you spot a suicidal teen, and what can you do? First of all, know that any teen can be struggling with suicidal thoughts, no matter their appearance. Always take any comments about suicide or wanting to die – even if they seem like a joke – very seriously. Also, if the teen has been isolating or their behavior has changed in negative ways over a several week period, it's time to include suicide in the conversation.

The good news is that bringing up suicide, if it's done non-judgmentally, will never make someone more suicidal – in fact it usually removes the power of the secret. Then, make sure that the teen gets help. Evidence shows that professional counseling consistently reduces suicidal thinking.

Another way you can help is by coming out for our biggest annual event, a massive walk/run/ride, on Sunday, September 20.

It's an uplifting day that constitutes the largest suicide prevention event in the nation – just over at the Jeffco Fairgrounds. There's even a full BBQ lunch, taco bar and homemade cookies!

Come be a part of this empowering day, and help kids in your neighborhood in their most difficult moments. Visit swfmd.org for event information and resources – and stand with us today.

Check out rmpbs.org/health for real-life health care stories, blogs and resources.

What's your point of view?

Ro
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 › 2:58pm
I commend the work you're doing! I attempted suicide years ago and can relate to what others might be experiencing. Thank you for ALL you do!!!!

Jan
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 › 3:08pm
I lost my brother to suicide and it is horrible. My daughters friend threatened suicide so my daughter got scared and told the teachers at the school about it which was the right thing to do. The girls parent got mad at my daughter for doing this but I support my daughter 100% for doing this. She probably saved her friends life. If more kids and parents could be aware of the signs then maybe we could save even one more young life! I too commend you on the work you are doing!!

Bev
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 › 3:40pm
My Granddaughter Jessie shot herself last Thursday. Not a teenager, although I will always remember her at that age. She was 24, with a 20 month old son. Happy, had a job and home of her own, no clues to make us "wake up". We feel it could have been alcohol or goofing off. She has had a gun in the house for years, coming from a ranching family. We can make no sense of it. My son and daughter-in-law are some of the finest loving parents you could ask for. Her brother and sister-in-law loved her beyond measure. Lots of friends. Why?

Ro
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 › 4:05pm
Being someone who "failed" at his own suicide I will say that for those that are left to ask "why" after a loved one has departed in such an abrupt and shocking way it is seldom that the "why" is ever understood. Rather we usually take assumptions and try to fill that void, and usually to no avail. I wish all peace in this process!

KOinCO
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 › 8:27pm
As a member of a crisis intervention committee I attended several eye opening workshops on the topic. Two quotes I remember are:" Kids don't care how much you know, they want to know how much you care" and "Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem". Due to traveling to NJ next week I will be unable to attend the event .

I am interested in learning more about this suicide prevention organization.

LR
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 › 9:55pm
Bev,

I am so sorry to hear about Jessie's death. I don't know if this helps, but I came close to doing the same thing 30 years ago. I was drinking heavily and "goofing off," alone and late at night. For some reason I seem to have gotten enough of a grip, maybe it was luck, to not pull the trigger that night. I have lived with suicidal impulses since age 14 and finally quit drinking and got help.

I am really glad to hear about projects like Second Wind Fund, and I agree totally with Jeff that talking about suicide does not increase the likelihood of acting the tragedy out. For me that talk took the form of Alcoholics Anonymous. For others it might be their church or a therapist. But more than anything, it is getting "outside of oneself," reaching out, and learning that there are options.

Jeff Lamontagne
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 › 9:50am
Thanks for the insightful, kind and supportive comments.

You can find out more on our website at swfmd.org or by calling us at 720-962-0706. We're glad to explain in more detail what we do.

Suicide is a complex topic, and while there are some generalizations that can be made about suicidal thinking, the rationale as to "why" runs the spectrum from mental illness to chronic pain to isolation to, as one writer indicated, temporary problems. Each individual who struggles with suicidal thoughts has their own biological and experiential mix that they are trying to work through. This is one reason we do everything we can to give intensive 1-on-1 help to kids struggling with the issue, because individual work is at the heart of the solution.

Ro
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 › 2:58pm
I commend the work you're doing! I attempted suicide years ago and can relate to what others might be experiencing. Thank you for ALL you do!!!!