Anyone can help save a life

WOOSTER -- Anyone can help prevent a suicide; the person providing hope to someone contemplating it does not have to be a trained professional.

However, Family and Children First Council members learned Monday that Wayne County has a full slate of resources and experts to call upon in thwarting a suicide.

Council members in attendance earned at QPR -- Question, Persuade and Refer -- Gatekeeper Certificate -- for participating in the QPR presentation put on by Judy Wortham Wood, executive director, and Rebecca Civitollo of the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Wayne & Holmes Counties; and Fredy Robles of Catholic Charities.

Locally, completed suicides reached a high of 15 for the year in 2009, Wortham Wood said, in the midst of "financial strife" and "massive cuts in our (mental health and substance abuse) system."

The thrust behind QPR is "ask a question; save a life," participants heard.

"What CPR is for cardiac arrest, QPR is for suicide," Robles said, emphasizing what it is not is "a form of counseling or treatment."

However, an informed, caring person may stop a suicide or reduce the risk.

Most people who end their lives "communicate their intent some time during the week preceding their attempt," according to Robles, whose portion of the hour-long presentation stressed, "Suicide is the most preventable kind of death, and almost any positive action can save a life."

Those contemplating suicide often offer direct or indirect clues, ranging from highlighting their plan to making statements such as, "I just can't go on. My family would be better off without me."

"When someone makes statements like those, you need to probe a little further," Robles said.

They also demonstrate behavioral clues, he said, for example, giving away prized possessions and "putting personal affairs in order," with "wanting to put their ducks in a row" very common.

Situational clues encompass loss of financial security and major relationships, the death of someone close or the diagnosis of a serious or terminal illness.

"When the market crashed, suicides spiked," Robles said.

Questioning a person about his or her possible intention to commit suicide is critical.

How it is less important than that it is asked, according to Wortham Wood. "There is no perfect or imperfect way to ask it."

If you cannot ask the question, find someone who can, the presentation advised.

After discerning just how unhappy or likely to complete a suicide someone is, listen to them, giving full attention, withholding judgment and "offer(ing) hope in any form," Wortham Wood's part of the presentation said. "Your willingness to listen and to help can rekindle hope and make all the difference."

Don't wait; be persistent; don't leave a potentially suicidal person alone, and keep resources for help readily available, Wortham Wood advised.

For referral purposes, each attendee was given a folder of comprehensive information about how to help and whom to call for assistance.

"For such a small community, we have a wealth of resources available," she said.

Staying with a person until specific support is enlisted is very important, according to Wortham Wood.

Perhaps the person will need to be escorted to the emergency room, Robles pointed out.

Research shows most people who took their own lives tried to "change their minds in that last minute," Wortham Wood said.

Lynn Moomaw, director of operations and adult education at the Wayne County Schools Career Center, questioned how protocol works when a minor is involved and what to do if a person says he or she does not have insurance.

Along with discussing the specific issues involved with youth 18 and under, Wortham Wood said, crisis services are provided "whether or not (a person) can pay."

The QPR presentation is available to any group or organization, early in the day, later in the evening or even on weekends, Wortham Wood said.

"The biggest increase in our community" of people completing suicide attempts is among middle-aged men, she said, noting Robles is available to tailor the presentation specifically to groups of men.

"There is a way to present it for each individual target audience," Robles said.

For more information, contact the Mental Health & Recovery Board at 330-264-2527 or 330-674-5772.

Reporter Linda Hall can be reached at 330-264-1125, Ext. 2230, or [email protected]. She is @lindahallTDR on Twitter.