Suicide prevention is recognized nationally during the month of September
and here at Ashe Library there is a special display to promote the topic. It is a well-known statistic that Ashe County
ranks high across the state for death by suicide. The stigma surrounding victims and survivors
of suicide inhibits many from seeking help. There is a great need to change
public attitudes, and increase awareness and understanding about suicide as a
major public health problem that is largely preventable. Suicide survivors are left with a sense of unexpected and
intense grief, shock, confusion, and numbness. We know that grief from
the suicide of a loved one is complicated and may last for the rest of one’s
life. “What if’s,” “if only’s,” “should of’s,” “could of’s” tend to abound in
the minds of those grieving. The relationships of loved ones who are mourning
may be strained by differences in the way they grieve, sometimes leading to
further anguish. For these reasons, it is important to seek help with resolving
questions and issues that involve suicide and to find peace. |
| Gretchen Summervile of Western Youth Network |
Please
join the Ashe Health Alliance in supporting suicide prevention. Together we can
reduce the number of lives shaken by a needless and tragic death. If you or
someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
 |
| Click here to reserve audio book |
I
recently listened to an audiobook by Sue Klebold, A Mother’s Reckoning. Sue is a survivor of murder/suicide, (mother
of Columbine shooter, Dylan Klebold) and events of the horrific tragedy that took
place 16 years ago in Littleton, Colorado. Ms. Klebold has
endured incredible pain and heartbreak, and now she shows tremendous courage as
she comes forward to share her story. Since that fateful day in 1999, Sue has
dedicated her life to finding the answers to what drove her son to kill. She is
currently an activist for mental health and suicide prevention, and all the
proceeds from the sales of her book are being donated to suicide prevention and
mental health. She actually calls it
brain health and brain illness throughout her book, for a very smart reason.
Mental refers to something intangible, and some experts believe that if we
change the terminology from mental health to brain health, because the brain is
something tangible that we KNOW needs attention, it could help people be more
open to truths of mental/brain illness. After
looking at evidence she saw, for only the first time, after the tragedy had
occurred and by talking to numerous medical and other experts in the field of
mental health, Sue learned that Dylan was extremely depressed. He was lonely,
bullied and had suicidal tendencies at least two years prior to Columbine. In her
book Klebold apologized to family and friends of Dylan’s victims, but she also focused
on mental health and how various factors impact a child’s mental health,
including their ability to lead to a child having suicidal tendencies. Most
mass shootings have suicide as their ultimate mission, with the murders
providing a path for the shooter to get there and lessening the likelihood that
the shooter will be able to change his mind.
This book is available for check-out at the library along with other
selected titles. Check out our display
and read more.
No comments:
Post a Comment