Suicide Memory Wall set at SWGTC

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October 25, 2012

Suicide Memory Wall set at SWGTC

Staff report CNHI The Times Enterprise Thu Oct 25, 2012, 01:02 PM EDT

THOMASVILLE — Throughout November, Southwest Georgia Technical College (SWGTC) will display Archbold Northside’s Suicide Memory Wall. SWGTC is hosting the wall in order to raise awareness among their students, faculty and staff about suicide, an act that takes more than 30,000 lives a year.

“We are really honored to have the Memory Wall on our campus. Suicide is one of those issues that can be really hard to talk about, and by having the Wall here we are hoping to promote awareness and also create opportunities to dialogue about what is typically a very isolating concern,” said Alison Welch, SWGTC counselor.

Archbold Northside Center for Behavioral Health and Psychiatric Care created the Suicide Memory Wall as a way to honor the memory and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have committed suicide. The wall features a landscape painted by Northside’s own psychiatrist, Darin J. Drury, MD. It has traveled to events — health fairs, community gatherings, and schools — to serve as a visual for those who are suicidal to see that there is help and that they are loved. Family members and/or friends are also encouraged to write a special message and post a photo of their lost loved one.

Suicide is a growing public health concern, especially on college campuses. In 2009, it accounted for 14.4 percent of deaths in young people ages 15-24 years, according to statistics put out by the American Association of Suicidology. Many attribute the high incidence of suicide among young adults to stress associated with high school/college and fear of seeking help.

“Eighty-percent of people who commit suicide have never had professional help,” said Jim Terry, Archbold Northside administrator. “As a family member or friend, the most important thing you can do is to identify risk factors and recognize warning signs early. Delaying treatment could result in worsening of symptoms, so it’s important to be attentive to warning signs. And above all else, get your loved one the help they need to prevent a fatal outcome.”

Suicide warning signs include:

l Ideation (thinking, talking or wishing about suicide)

l Substance use or abuse (increased use or change in substance)

l Purposelessness (no sense of purpose or belonging)

l Anger

l Trapped (feeling like there is no way out)

l Hopelessness (feeling there is nothing to live for, no hope or optimism)

l Withdrawal (from family, friends, work, school, activities, hobbies)

l Anxiety (restlessness, irritability, agitation)

l Recklessness (high risk-taking behavior)

l Mood disturbance (dramatic changes in mood)

l Talking about suicide

l Looking for ways to die (internet searches for how to commit suicide, looking for guns, pills, etc.)

l Statements about hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness

l Preoccupation with death

l Suddenly happier, calmer

l Loss of interest in things one cares about

l Visiting or calling people one cares about

l Making arrangements; setting one's affairs in order

l Giving things away, such as prized possessions

Archbold Northside offers a 24-hour HELPline through which mental health professionals can advise the need for hospitalization or other treatment. To access Archbold Northide’s HELPline free of charge, call 1-800-238-8661 or 229-228-8100.

SWGTC offers more than 80 certificate, diploma, and degree programs. Many of these programs provide training for some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields including Nursing, Automotive Technology, Clinical Laboratory Technology, and Emergency Medical Technology. More information may be obtained by calling 229-225-4096 or by logging onto www.southwestgatech.edu.

Spring Semester 2012 begins January 7th. Don’t wait, enroll today!

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