Suicide Prevention Week
By: Sean Chavez '24
National Suicide Prevention Week is from September 10 to September 16. The entire month of September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), and they are promoting a ‘Talk Away The Dark’ campaign to spread awareness.
While suicide seems extreme and might not affect most people’s lives, it is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. For age groups 10-14 and 20-34, it is the 2nd leading cause of dealing with an average of 132 suicides per day. Statistics by the AFSP showed that in 2021, suicide was responsible for around 48,183 deaths in the United States.
The school psychologist, Dr. Michael Pobanz, says, “If students are aware of the signs and aware that they can get help… it's very preventable. If no one says or does anything, that increases the risk… Being aware and taking action prevents a lot of suicides.”
Some of the warning signs that people should look out for include feelings of hopelessness, feelings of being trapped or being a burden for others, isolation from friends and family, sleeping too much or too little, and visiting or calling people to say goodbye. Aggression and fatigue are also common indications of suicidal thoughts. Dr. Pobanz adds, “Some warning signs are big changes in behavior or mood… If they’re normally active and then not as much, that is also a warning sign. If they… start talking about darker themes or talking about life and death…You should ask them how they’re doing.”
People should also be aware of risk factors like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, physical trauma, and prolonged stress. Dr. Pobanz also notes additional environmental factors. “When someone dies in their family or even dies by suicide…(or) something at home is happening like divorce or struggles at home… (these) are risk factors. If you notice these, you want to check in with that person and help them get some help.”
The most important thing about suicide prevention is to remember that suicide is preventable and that people who are contemplating it or know someone who is should get help. Dr. Pobanz explains, “That should be as soon as possible because we never know how great the risk is. Our job is to assess that risk to get them the right level of support that usually includes counseling.” Dr. Pobanz says that students can come directly to his office in room 406A or go to any of their counselors, but also that students can talk to any of the staff on campus to get help immediately.
Talking about concepts such as mental health and suicide can be very difficult, but bigger problems might arise when they are not discussed enough. Some of the reasons that people may be afraid to speak about topics like suicide and mental health are due to the stigma surrounding it. One of the main stigmas that Dr. Pobanz says is “that we all have to be happy, (and) in a good mood.” He also says that cultural factors prevent people from talking about mental health. “Older generations might say, ‘just suck it up’, ‘just be strong’, and ‘push through it’.” Ideas like these only create an environment where talking about mental health and getting help is shamed. The truth is that people shouldn’t feel afraid to talk to someone, especially because so many struggle with issues such as anxiety, stress, and more.
The number one way to spread awareness about this topic is to talk about it. Dr. Pobanz’s advice is, “If they see something about suicide prevention, they can just share it with their circle, their friends, and family…Help people become aware that these are the signs… (and) that they can access help… All of this dramatically reduces the risk of suicide in our community.” By having conversations about mental health, people can not only become more self-aware of their own difficulties but they can also help others in the process. For anyone who is struggling with suicidal thoughts or knows someone who is, you can let an adult know immediately or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 to get help.
