Categories: Advocacy, Bullying Prevention, College, Education, Guidance Counselor, Hazing Prevention, Mental Health, Mental Health News, Mental Health Treatment, School, Suicide, Suicide Prevention
This week is National Hazing Prevention Week, organized by HazingPrevention.org. While many might think about hazing in the context of college Greek organizations, hazing is a widespread problem in many settings, from high school sports teams to the military. In some organizations, hazing is a sanctioned rite of passage (this NFL team video goes so far as to mock anti-hazing efforts). Recent reports suggest that many incidents of hazing increasingly involve rape and other forms of sexual violence and degradation. While proponents of hazing argue that hazing is vital to the development of group cohesion, the reality is quite the opposite. Hazing is about power and control; it is a form of abuse that strips an individual of their autonomy and self-respect. History is strewn with horror stories of hazing gone wrong; the result of which is death or serious injury. Yet rarely do these reports consider the emotional and psychological injuries that occur from hazing. Hazing can be the trigger for serious mental health difficulties, such as acute stress disorder, major depression, suicidal thinking or even post-traumatic stress disorder. A well-written article by the psychologist Robert Brooks dismantles the argument for hazing. He notes that parents, educators and coaches need to help kids understand from an early age that hazing is not an acceptable practice and have mechanisms in place to support individuals who have been hazed. I encourage you to take a moment this week and consider what you can do to help prevent hazing in your community.
Categories: Advocacy, Mental Health, Mental Health Treatment, NAMI, New Hampshire, Recovery, Suicide, Suicide Prevention
September is suicide prevention month. Every year, more than 37,000 people die by suicide. NPR’s Science Friday did a wonderful piece on suicide titled “Diagnosing Destruction” which looked at the science and research behind suicide and suicide prevention. There are many excellent books to help us understand suicide and why people kill themselves; two that I have found particularly helpful are The Suicidal Mind by Edwin S. Shneidman, and Why People Die by Suicide by Thomas Joiner.
Statistically, we know that certain demographic groups are more at risk to die by suicide. These include being male, between the ages of 15-24 and over 65 and being diagnosed with a mental disorder. Despite these statistics, it is still impossible to predict if a person will make a suicide attempt. However, here are some warning signs that a person may be considering suicide.
Always take someone seriously if they say they are feeling suicidal. Even if someone has made suicidal statements in the past and never followed through, there is always the possibility that this time they will try to kill themselves.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, here are some recommendations. Any person who is thinking about suicide should be evaluated by a qualified mental health or suicide prevention professional.
Contact your local or national crisis line or accompany the individual to your local emergency room.
Call 911 if the person is actively making an attempt to kill him or herself or is refusing to seek help.
Visit the Suicide Prevention Lifeline for more tips on how to help someone who is feeling suicidal. Military veterans also have the option of calling the Veteran’s Crisis Line.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has developed a fantastic suicide prevention program called The Connect Project that aims to train community partners in how to prevent suicide and intervene when someone has died by suicide. In New Hampshire there are several grief support groups for family and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide. NAMI New Hampshire also provides resources for those who have survived a suicide attempt. Finally, NAMI New Hampshire hosts an excellent Suicide Prevention Conference each year.
Suicide is preventable. There is hope. Please make a difference by learning more about suicide prevention and educating others.