Learn How To Save A Life

Sat., June 7, 1997

Susan Ashley Special To Opinion

On Saturday May 10, a young man drove up to the ticket booth at the Edmonds Ferry and asked: “Do I deserve to live?” The response was “What?” The young man then drove through a barricade, into Puget Sound, and drowned. If that employee at the ferry had had suicide prevention awareness training, that young man might have gotten help. The employee could have said, “You seem troubled, is there someone I could call for you?”

We need to help the public become more aware of a very real problem. Suicide is one of the most preventable deaths plaguing our country today. Treatable depression left untreated often leads to suicidal behaviors. The Spokane County Health District sponsors the Suicide Prevention Task Force. The group is made up of people from many walks of life - students, parents, public service employees, Fairchild Air Force personnel and experts in suicide prevention.

I joined the task force more than three years ago because my daughter wanted to become involved in helping kids overcome thoughts of suicide. My niece had gone through suicidal episodes when she was younger and I didn’t know how to talk to her. I’m a licensed practical nurse and I didn’t have a clue how to help. I wanted to learn.

In May, during suicide prevention week, we gave out information and sponsored a walk to Riverfront Park. We did the walk to remember those who have committed suicide and to offer hope that a solution is available.

While some of the area’s high schools were willing to participate, many were not. We asked school administrators to pass out information and green ribbons. Some felt ill-prepared and unwilling to talk about suicide to young people. But if you talk about it, young people learn the warning signs of suicide - withdrawal, giving away of personal belongings, depression and thoughts of hopelessness. The more students are aware, the more they will get the help they need.

The task force uses a program called QPR. Question - ask a question, save a life. Persuade - help the person talk to someone. Refer - find someone who can help. If you would like to get involved in suicide prevention, call the task force at 324-1473. The life you save may be that of a son, daughter, brother, sister, mother, father, husband, wife, niece, nephew or someone else very close to you.

MEMO: Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.

Your Turn is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a Your Turn column for consideration, contact Rebecca Nappi at 459-5496 or Doug Floyd at 459-5466 or write Your Turn, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.

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