SUICIDE PREVENTION
Michael Walsh, Executive Director with Mental Health
Mr. Walsh spoke about looking for visual expressions as a sign of what someone may be feeling. He shared both a Harvard and Yale study that measured how accurately people noticed details. The results show that the majority of us do not notice a change or even remember what the focus of a particular question might be.
So how can we help prevent suicide? 98% of the people who either attempted suicide or died spoke with someone about their thoughts of suicide within 30 days prior to the attempt. Only 4% reach out to a mental health counselor for help. Most of the time, they call a friend.
Statistically, it has been proven that most people think about suicide at least once in their lifetime. The QPR Program, Question, Persuade, and Refer, is a training program to help individuals help someone that may be thinking of suicide. Learning how to ask the right questions to get a response is crucial. Noticing their visual expressions is crucial.
Another key program Walsh spoke of is one geared for children in kindergarten - 4th grade. It is a coping program shared in the schools with a message of I See Hope.
Coping skills are taught in a fun visual manner with a puppet to gain their interest.
There is a free referral program through MHA of Beaufort and Jasper for help.