Searcy (LP) September is the national month of suicide awareness. According to the Jason Foundation, more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined. In Arkansas, a person commits suicide every 17 hours. This is not a problem that Searcy High School is immune to; it’s here and it is real. Suicide is sometimes seen as a taboo topic that should be always avoided, but students, parents, and even faculty need to start actually discussing it in order to become more educated about warning signs, prevention methods, available support, etc.
Not every student knows that there is any help at all available to them, let alone professional help. Guidance counselor Patti Pence says, “I think there is a misconception amongst students and parents, and a lot of the faculty too, that school counselors are not trained mental health professionals, and we are, that’s what we do.” Students have constant access to the school guidance center, and there are also other available resources for them. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline provides 24 hour phone calls and online chats for those unwilling to actually call. Students can also talk to friends, family, or even teachers when they are feeling suicidal. Mrs. Pence also says that she “would just encourage students, when they have friends who threaten suicide, to take them seriously, because it they’re talking about it, it’s something on their mind and it needs to be addressed.”
One of the biggest problems that people who are suicidal have is that they are scared to reach out; they are scared that their feelings won’t be taken seriously or that they will be disregarded. Students should encourage each other and themselves to fight the suicide stigma and start reaching out to people who feel suicidal; suicide is not a mark of cowardice or disgrace, it is a sign that the person is not getting the help that they need. Everyone deserves to be able to live their lives to the fullest and not constantly contemplate ending it. Continuously fighting a battle in your head is exhausting, especially at this age. Your mental health is not something to treat lightly; it is something that matters just as much as your physical health. If you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts or is showing any warning signs like self harm, isolation, hopelessness, and risky behavior, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Reach out your hand if you are in need, and someone will gladly take it and show you the love and hope that you deserve.
