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NAMI Miami-Dade marks suicide prevention and Awareness month by sharing warning signs and resources available
Suicide confronts us every day in the headlines.
A local high school student. A 27-year-old Tampa, Florida native news anchor, and
most recently, the CFO of Bed Bath & Beyond. And many more tragedies that we
never hear about. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages
10-14 and 25-34 in 2020, the most recent year for which data is available.
Researchers emphasize that reported suicides are likely undercounted.
“There is a suicide death in the US every 11 minutes, and we must work on doing
something about it,” said Kathy Coppola, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental
Illness) Miami-Dade executive director. “We have to educate everyone about
mental health, no matter their age or demographic. We offer free suicide
prevention training presentations,” she said. “In this community, NAMI Miami-
Dade is working to try to stem these potential tragedies, with programs
supported by Thriving Mind South Florida and The Florida Department of Children
and Families,” she said.
While suicide has been covered in the news extensively in recent years, “the most
important factor is becoming educated; being aware of mental unwellness or
suicide ideation in your circle of friends, listening empathetically without
judgement and knowing the resources available in your community,” Ms. Coppola
explained.
Mental Health Myths and Facts
“We work to upend several myths about mental health in our educational
programs — QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and Ending the Silence
Presentations,” said Lisa LeSueur, NAMI Miami-Dade’s suicide prevention
initiative coordinator. In addition, Ms. LeSueur is a pastor and the Secretary for
the Coral Gables United Church of Christ (UCC); Mental Health Network Board
and the Coordinator for the UCC Florida Conference WISE Mental Health Ministry
Initiative.
“One of the biggest myths about suicide is that if you simply talk about it with
someone, that puts the idea of suicide in their heads. The opposite is true. Talking
about it gives the person a great sense of relief to be able to talk about how they
are feeling with someone,” LeSueur said.
“Another myth is that people keep thoughts of their suicide to themselves. This is
not usually the case; they show warning signs,” LeSueur said. “Their friends,
family and colleagues need to be aware what those signs are. This comes back to
each of us educating ourselves.”
Warning Signs of Suicidal Thoughts
This is not an exhaustive list but it includes some of the most common signs of
suicidal thoughts, especially in people who have a history of mental illness.
Feelings of:
Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage
Unbearable emotional or physical pain
Behavioral changes:
Making a plan or researching ways to die
Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items or
making a will
Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
Displaying extreme mood swings
Eating or sleeping more or less
Using drugs or alcohol more often
Resources available. NAMI Miami-Dade, provides support for those experiencing
mental health challenges, and their families. Its mission includes: educate the
public about mental health, eliminate the stigma of mental illness and advocate
for improvements in for recovery outcomes for those with a mental health
condition.
NAMI Miami offers all programs for free: 36 peer-led support groups a month;
classes for individuals, youth and their families including suicide education and
prevention programs; hosts presentations for groups, companies or organizations
about mental health and where to find help in our community. These important
free resources are more paramount than ever in light of these 2020 statistics:
an estimated 12.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide
3.2 million planned a suicide attempt, and
1.2 million attempted suicides.
suicide was among the top 9 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64.
About NAMI Miami-Dade
NAMI Miami-Dade County is an affiliate of the nation’s largest peer-led mental
health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of
individuals affected by a mental health condition and their families.
Approximately 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness each year, and
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Gallup polling, mental
unwellness due to the pandemic has created a suicide crisis in teens and a
workplace crisis for employers. NAMI Miami-Dade offers free and confidential
mental health support, education, and advocacy for individuals and their families
and friends in both English and Spanish. For more information, call 305-665-2540,
or visit NAMIMiami.org and connect with us on Facebook or Instagram at
@NAMIMiami.
