Prevent Suicide – Don’t Take "No" For an Answer

By Alan Holmlund
Suicide Prevention Coordinator,
Injury Prevention and Control Program
Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Basic Facts
In Massachusetts, in 2001, suicide was the second leading cause of death for 10 – 19 year-olds. Only traffic-related injuries caused more deaths. In the 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, given by the Department of Education to 5,000 high school students statewide, 500 students reported having made a suicide attempt. More than half the attempts needed medical treatment.

Who is at risk?
Students who engage in other risky behaviors – smoking, drinking, taking drugs, having sex, driving too fast – are all at greater risk for a suicide attempt. Students with mental health problems, especially depression, are much more likely to attempt suicide.

What can you do?
You can listen. Young people who attempt suicide have almost always talked about it first. You must take seriously anyone who says they are thinking about killing themselves. Never agree to keep it a secret. Suicide is more about ending the pain they are suffering than it is about wanting to die. Anything that helps to release the pain can help prevent suicide. That’s why listening to someone and encouraging them to share their painful feelings of helplessness and hopelessness can go a long way toward helping them release the pain.

Where to go for help
Anyone who is feeling suicidal needs professional help. Suicidal thoughts and feelings are often symptoms of a deeper mental health issue that can be successfully treated if the person will accept it. Pediatricians, mental health professionals, school adjustment counselors, school nurses and crisis hotlines can all be of help to a young person who is thinking suicide. The important thing is not to take “no” for an answer. A person’s life cannot be the responsibility of any one individual, others must be brought in and made aware.

For more information
Call for a copy of the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Resource Guide: 617-624-5476

If you are in crisis, there are local and national hotlines with caring people on the other end.
Samaritans of Boston at (617) 247-0220
Samariteens (for teens only) at 1-800-252-TEEN.
National Hopeline Network at 1-800-SUICIDE.