Suicide Screenings: Helpful or Not?

Suicide is quickly ascending to a leading cause of death nationwide, and the latest statistics indicate that primary care physicians are not likely to be much help in neither the identification of suicidal tendencies in patients nor the prevention of the act – particularly in adolescents.

Back in 2004, the US Task Force decided not to recommend routine suicide screenings, and the updated recommendation is not much different. They conclude that although screenings could be helpful in identifying suicidal patients that there is still no evidence that they aid in the prevention of the act itself.

Recent Facts About Suicide Screening and Prevention

In preparation to make fresh recommendations for or against routine suicide screenings by doctors, the US Preventive Services Task Force’s reviewed 56 published studies conceived from 2002-2012. Their overall assessment finds several interesting markers.

• Implementing primary care suicide screening tools might effectively identify adults needing treatment but appear to have limited ability to detect such in youths.
• 38% of adults and 90% of adolescents who attempted suicide had visited their physician during the prior year.
• Psychotherapy reduced the risk of a second attempt in 32% of high-risk adults while no significant benefits are noted in adolescents.

There is Still Help Out There for Our Youth

If you are a youth or the parent of one, these statistics might not give you the best impression initially. However, these figures don’t mean that youths cannot be helped – or that they cannot help themselves – and it certainly doesn’t imply that one needs to become an adult before trying to seek help to find success. It only reinforces the idea that those closest to someone with suicidal thoughts can become the true heroes concerning identification and prevention.

Case and point – if you or someone you know needs a suicide screening, seek expert assistance from a mental health professional rather than relying upon a general physician to make the call.

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The “Dog Whisperer”

His quiet, gentle demeanor has made him a beloved figure in the eyes of many pet owners, while his insight into dog behavior and psychology has made him a household name. The “Dog Whisperer”, or Cesar Millan as his friends and family know him, became a hit in the United States after his half-hour program debuted on National Geographic in September 2004. The popular series, in which Millan worked with to rehabilitate the behavior of problem dogs, ended with a finale on September 15th, 2012.

His Story

During the last couple years of the series, Millan battled real-life drama as he coped with depression and thoughts of suicide. In 2010, Millan’s beloved dog, Daddy, passed away. A few months later, his wife filed for divorce, ending their 16-year marriage. The Dog Whisperer soon fell into “the darkest season of my life”. Overwhelmed by guilt, and feelings of failure and defeat, Millan found himself at an all-time low. During the middle of the 2010 season, he tried to overdose in an attempt to kill himself.

Depression

Unfortunately, Millan’s reaction to a deep, dark depression isn’t uncommon. When the pain of depression becomes heavy and all-consuming, suicide often appears to be the only way out. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death, finds the National Institute of Mental Health, and for every successful suicide, there are 10 non-fatal attempts similar to that of Cesar Millan.

Don’t Give Up

If you’re battling depression and suicidal thoughts, there’s a way to overcome the pain without taking your life. A caring voice at the other end of a suicide hotline, a counselor, friend or even your doctor can help you find relief. Reach out to someone who can help you walk through the hopelessness, remaining with you until you’re able to stand on your own again.

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The Loss of Mindy McCready

The world lost a beautiful, talented woman on February 17, 2013. This is the day on which country singer Mindy McCready tragically died at her own hand. The suicide took place just a month after her boyfriend had killed himself, as well as in the exact same location and with a similar weapon. Prior to her death, McCready had been grieving her recently deceased boyfriend, but in increasing isolation from her family and friends.

Drug Addiction and Depression

Although she made several attempts to solve personal issues related to drug addiction and depression, McCready found herself constantly at the mercy of relapse during the final decade of her life. While relapses are common for those struggling with mental health problems, they often can be avoided with the development and continual practice of effective coping skills. Unfortunately, McCready either never obtained such skills or did not continue to practice them long enough for them to work properly.

Celebrities Speak Out

Now, celebrities who have struggled with the same problems as Mindy McCready are speaking out in hopes that others who are struggling will learn of some concrete steps they can take to ease their distress. AC/DC member Cliff Williams offers particularly valuable advice: those with sturdy social networks are less likely to relapse. Cliff says that his children and wife help to keep him stable. Had McCready had a reliable person she felt comfortable leaning on — especially in the aftermath of her boyfriend’s death — perhaps her life would not have ended so early.

A Lot to Learn From Tragedy

Despite the tragic nature of the Mindy McCready story, there is a lot to be learned, both for sufferers of mental illness and their loved ones. Perhaps the biggest takeaway: the support of loved ones is essential in times of emotional upheaval or great distress.

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The success and mainstream appeal of the new movie Silver Linings Playbook has given new light to the subject of mental health and those that struggle with it. The movie focuses on a number of characters based on Mathew Quick’s book by the same name. Through the depiction of such characters like Pat, the movie shows those struggling with mental illness are not unlike everyone else.

Are You Struggling with Depression?

If you are someone struggling with bipolar disorder, chronic depression, or other mental health issues, this movie and book may be an avenue of great solace. Perhaps you too can create your own “Silver Linings Playbook.” Of course, if you feel that your mental health is at serious risk, perhaps even considering suicide, you should immediately seek a help center or call a suicide prevention hotline in your local area.

Find Your Own “Silver Lining”

However, if you feel that you have a good handle on your mental health, but still have certain tenancies or issues that you would like to resolve, taking an approach like those from Silver Linings Playbook may be your best answer. The main focus of doing so is to find the silver linings in your life and daily activities. For instance, if you get out to the park for a run or meet a friend for coffee and end up having a great conversation, these things can be the silver linings of your day. Such simple things are often just a mundane part of someone’s normal routine, but to you they can mean so much more. This approach to mental health is especially useful when you feel the world is working against you and things just never seem to go your way. In such instances, if you can find the silver linings, it will give you an optimism that can do truly wonderful things for your mental state.

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Mindy McCready

In 1996, Mindy McCready released her debut album. The singer’s Ten Thousand Angels included her number one hit “Guys Do It All the Time” and went on to double-platinum certification with two million copies sold.

Sadly, much of the public is familiar with McCready more through her troubles with the law, appearance on addiction reality show Celebrity Rehab, and frequent suicide attempts than through her music. On February 17th, the front page news about McCready was her successful suicide attempt of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Depression, Addiction & Suicide

Unfortunately, McCready’s story isn’t a unique one. Sylvia Plath, Kurt Cobain, Vincent Van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway, the art and entertainment world is riddled with stories of depression, addiction and suicide.

The world of entertainment can be a difficult one to navigate. The rejections, successes, failures, constant changes to routine and uncertain futures of artistic fields create a roller coaster ride that wreaks havoc on the psyche, which is why entertainers and artists are more prone to depression and addiction than those in other fields.

The Necessary Steps

If you work in an artistic field and suffer from depression or addiction, you are far from alone, and, when it comes to treatment, you have many options. If you are suffering from addiction, the first step is to get help from trained professionals who can help you overcome your dependence on substances. This is an important step toward handling depression, because you can’t control how you feel if you let substances control how you think.

After controlling your addiction, the next vital task is to control your depression. Even if you don’t want to take antidepressants, there are many things you can do to improve your depressive state, including eating right, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep.

As an artist, you are naturally more prone to depression than the general population, but that doesn’t mean you have to give into it. Don’t deprive the world of your work yet to come. Who knows what Plath or Cobain would have done with a few more decades?

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