CSC holds suicide prevention workshop

Davina Fessler,  with Western Community Health Resources, presents ways to prevent suicide

Hope helps prevent suicide.

That was a main point Davina Fessler, human services health manager with Western Community Health Resources and CSC senior of Chadron, made during the Suicide Prevention Workshop Friday morning.

Fessler focused on the signs of a suicidal person, how to approach the situation, how to handle the person and the situation, and what to do after. She began with statistics and some causes as to why people may become suicidal or have suicidal thoughts.

A few statistics presented were that in 2012 Wyoming had the highest suicide rate, there are 25 attempted suicides for every documented suicidal death, and males are four times more likely to attempt suicide.

Next, Fessler went over factors that may heighten someone’s suicidal thoughts, such as biological reasons, age, grade level, etc.; psychological drugs and alcohol, and the surrounding environment season of the year. Other factors include but are not limited to relationship problems, losing a job, etc. She also listed a few ways—poison, guns, or overdosing—to carry out a suicide.

According to Fessler, the peak of stress is when people are most likely to attempt suicide. When someone close to the person who is stressed or suicidal, steps in to help with tasks such as studying for finals, loaning money for financial problems, or other reasons, lowers the stress of the person and can help prevent suicide.

After going over some of the basics, Fessler got in to the detail of approaching the person, talking with them, and helping them. The main point she used to explain these steps were QPR—Question, Persuade, Refer.

“You want to give them hope,” Fessler said.

Suicidal people tend to believe they are alone, according to Fessler. While going through the steps Fessler also used her experience with suicidal thoughts to give examples and more insight into how the steps work.

An important aspect to spotting someone who is thinking about suicide is to really know the person and his or her attitude and mood. Someone who is contemplating suicide will have a drastic change in his or her mood.

“Knowing the person is important,” Fessler said.

A person will begin to act different and drastically change their perspectives.

If you notice that someone close to you is down or has drastic mood changes and you believe they may be considering suicide, there are tips about approaching the person and situation.

If you are in doubt, don’t wait, ask about it, catch the person as they are going up their peak of stress—before they reach the top, allow the person to open up and speak freely on his or her own will, do it in a private setting, have resources available when you go speak with them, and listen to the person.

Adding her own personal experience, self-harm is a warning sign before someone commits suicide, according to Fessler.

“Cutting is an addiction and gets worse as it goes,” Fessler said. “It can be an outlet or cry for help depending on the person.”

Adding, Fessler went on to explain how a person should approach the suicidal individual by using the direct approach. Always be inviting and allow the person to open up, never ask if the person is feeling suicidal in a negative way, such as “You aren’t suicidal, are you?”

As the person trying to help, you must persuade by listening to the problem.

“Suicide is not the problem,” Fessler said.

Never rush to judge the person but offer hope allowing that person to realize he or she is not alone, according to Fessler.

Then, refer that person to the appropriate resources or take him or her to a counselor.

Also, be sure to make yourself available for that person to either talk or go with them to speak with an appropriate person.

The main thought Fessler wanted the audience to know was that giving the person hope is important to helping him or her.

Students attended the workshop for classes but still gained the resources to help someone suffering from suicidal thoughts.

Kate Chesterman, 19, freshman of Bertrand, went for extra credit in a class but left with more knowledge on the subject.

“The thing that stuck with me the most is that people who are thinking about committing suicide do a last cry for help before they do actually commit suicide,” Chesterman said, “and more people don’t hear their last cry for help.”

Chesterman added that she feels prepared for dealing with someone who suffers from suicidal thoughts and helped her to realize the steps to take.