Stoicism A Poor Lifeline Substitute
“We’re all captains of our own ship,” said Louis St. Louis, the Coeur d’Alene father of one of the victims of Heaven’s Gate. “If someone wants to crash and burn, you can’t stop them.”
No doubt anger, resignation and denial are normal emotions after a family member takes his own life. Nonetheless, as a statement to our community about suicide, this message is terrible.
It is also wrong. People in the Inland Northwest save one another’s lives all the time. It is often possible to reach out and alter someone’s self-damaging course.
The American West’s myth of rugged individualism echoes in St. Louis’ words. Independence can create achievement, strength and courage. But, unhooked from meaningful relationships, independence can also veer into the darkness of isolation and despair.
Those trapped in depression see no more clearly than a pilot on a gray day at Geiger Field. To make wise decisions, they need a human voice to penetrate the fog.
As a major depression deepens, it can be as lethal as cancer. We don’t leave melanoma patients alone to treat themselves, neither should we ignore the seriously depressed.
If we needed an economic reason for suicide prevention, we could look at health care care costs. Annually, hospital bills for suicide attempts in Spokane County top $2.6 million.
Those contemplating suicide, the second leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds in Washington state, require compassion.
They must hear a clear message: Each of life’s problems have a solution. That solution is never death.
Think of the gash a suicide rips in any family or community. There is no problem in life that can justify that much of pain and destruction.
Religions speak of the interconnectedness of life. Relationships may bring pain; they also promote healing. We truly are in this together.
Fortunately, the Spokane County Suicide Prevention Task Force does not abandon the despairing. Instead, through a method as life-saving as CPR, it brings hope.
Developed by suicide prevention expert Paul Quinnett, this method is called QPR. It’s been taught in 12 states to 14,000 people.
The initials for this form of soul-to-soul resuscitation stand for question, persuade and refer.
People are trained to watch for signs of serious depression among family and friends. QPR trainers recommend asking a direct question: Are you considering suicide? Asking won’t increase the risk.
QPR offers lessons on the importance of listening seriously, providing empathy and support, calling crisis hotlines (838-4428 in Spokane, 208-769-1406 in Coeur d’Alene) and finding trained mental health professionals.
QPR calls suicide one of the most preventable causes of death there is.
It averts an act of utter isolation with that which keeps each of us afloat every single day: Simple, profound human connection.
, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Jamie Tobias Neely For the editorial board