‘Nobody talks about it’: The rise in youth suicide
Tara Lowery, a parent in Stafford county, lost her son Jake to suicide in 2016. She was recently featured in a video by VERIFY alongside other parents and mental health experts to talk about the youth suicide crisis: Watch the video by VERIFY here.
Since Jake’s death, Tara puts on an annual event every September to raise funds for MHAfred’s local suicide prevention programming in his memory. You can learn more about the event and donate to the cause here.
Our August Stories
An excerpt from Celebrating Friendship: Bonnie & Gil:
“Bonnie and Gil are just one example of how friendship can enrich and brighten our lives. A smile, a kind word, and a listening ear may seem like small things, but they can make a huge difference to both the giver and the receiver.”
An excerpt from Back to School:
“Especially in times of transition such as the return to school, it is crucial that adults and youth stay educated and watch for signs of mental health challenges.”
Celebrating Friendship: Bonnie & Gil
Read the article that appeared in the August 2022 edition of the Front Porch magazine:
In 1935 the United States Congress pronounced the first Sunday in August to be designated National Friendship Day. This year the holiday falls on August 7th.
At Mental Health America of Fredericksburg’ s Senior Visitors Program, we love to celebrate friendship every day! However, we cannot pass up the opportunity to recognize some special friends – our volunteers – whose kindness and friendship make such a positive difference in our community. Our volunteers are our program. Our volunteers are college students, couples, working professionals, recently retired, young adults, active older adults, and so on. The thing they all have in common is a desire to give back to the older adults in their community.
Though our volunteers are only asked to give an hour a week visiting an older adult, they often go beyond that in both time and compassion. Volunteers offer a listening ear, encouragement, someone to laugh with, perhaps someone to go for a walk or a drive with, and so much more. Volunteers offer friendship.
One of our volunteers, Bonnie Newcomb, says of her volunteer experience with the Senior Visitors Program, “I thought the program offered a good way to meet seniors in my community who would be interested in making new friends. I enjoy meeting new people and sharing time together.”
Bonnie started volunteering with her new friend, Gil, in January of this year. “Gil is such a sweetheart. He is a great conversationalist, shares very interesting stories, and has a beautiful smile.”
Bonnie also says of volunteering, “[I appreciate] how much enjoyment I get from volunteering and the kindness of the people I have met.”
Gil says of Bonnie, “She’s good people. She is very friendly. I don’t get a lot of visitors, so she is a godsend. We call and check on each other. I just like her and like her company. I also got to meet her husband and he is real nice, too.”
Recently, Bonnie helped Gil celebrate his birthday. Gil, chuckled as he explained, “I can only have baked things in moderation, but Bonnie brought me a little coconut cake which is my favorite. She’s real good to me.”
Bonnie and Gil are just one example of how friendship can enrich and brighten our lives. A smile, a kind word, and a listening ear may seem like small things, but they can make a huge difference to both the giver and the receiver.
I hope as you celebrate National Friendship Day, you will be able to honor all the wonderful friends in your life. Perhaps you can also celebrate by reaching out and forging new friendships.
Laurie Black is the Senior Visitors Program Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
If you know a senior who could benefit from having a weekly, friendly visit or if you would like to volunteer to visit a senior, call the Senior Visitors Program at (540) 371-2 2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org to download volunteer or senior applications. The Senior Visitors Program is a free community service program of Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
Back to School
Read the article that appeared in the August 2022 edition of the Front Porch magazine:
The new school year is fast approaching, which feels hard to believe. The back-to-school season is often challenging for various reasons for students, families, and school staff. Not to mention during a pandemic that is still happening! To protect our mental health during this transition, self-care – and knowing how to care for others – is more important than ever.
Mental Health America publishes a Back to School Toolkit every year with useful resources and information for students, parents, and teachers. At the time I am writing this, the 2022 toolkit has not yet been released, but you can view previous years’ toolkits at MHAnational.org/back2school.
Our country is experiencing a mental health crisis. Most alarmingly, rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among youth ages 11-17 continue to increase. Especially in times of transition such as the return to school, it is crucial that adults and youth stay educated and watch for signs of mental health challenges.
In my role at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg, I offer free presentations to schools and other youth organizations about the signs of mental health conditions (including suicide) and how to get help for someone you know. Presentations are available for students, school staff, and parents. I believe that knowing what the red (or even yellow) flags are can be essential to saving someone’s life.
Across multiple mental health conditions, these are some of the common signs and symptoms* to look out for:
- Problems with concentration, memory, or ability to think clearly
- Changes in appetite
- Feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or worthless
- Loss of interest in things that they used to enjoy
- Excessive worry
- Irritability or restlessness
- Changes in sleep
- Angry outbursts
- Not wanting to be around people or take part in activities)
`*Borrowed from MHA 2020 Back to School Toolkit (MHAnational.org/back2school)
If you notice that someone you know is showing these signs, it could mean that they need help. Free and confidential mental health screenings are available online at MHAScreening.org, where MHA suggests next steps based on your responses.
If there are serious signs that someone you know may be considering suicide or harming others, get help immediately. Call or text 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline that launched nationwide on July 16.
If you are looking for a local mental health provider or want to learn more about MHAfred’s programs, call Mental Health America of Fredericksburg at (540) 371-2704 or visit our website at mhafred.org.
Anne-Tillery Melson is the Suicide Prevention Education Coordinator at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg.
988 Launching July 16, 2022
The 988 Mental Health Crisis Hotline launches across the United States on July 16, 2022.
988 will make it easier for people experiencing mental distress to reach trained crisis counselors. While the existing suicide prevention hotline number (1-800-273-8255) will continue to work, the new three digit number is hoped to make it simpler to call, and easier to raise awareness for the service.
To learn more about what this means:
- Visit 988lifeline.org
- Read this article in The New York Times
- Check out this Fact Sheet on 988 and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Read this article about how the 988 number intersects with the MARCUS Alert and emergency services in Virginia
- Listen to the NPR Podcast It’s Been A Minute episode audio and transcript about the 988 number and crisis response
- Check out these articles about the 988 number from local news around the state: Richmond, Hampton Roads, Charlottesville, Roanoke and Northern VA.