TRIGGER WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT ABOUT SUICIDE AND DISCUSSES SUICIDAL FEELINGS.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.2 million people attempted suicide in 2020. Many more than that seriously thought about suicide. There is no question that suicide is a major public health concern that affects all ages and ethnicities. The good news is that suicide is preventable. Suicide prevention begins with recognizing the warning signs, promoting resilience, and knowing the five action steps for helping someone in emotional pain (National Institute of Mental Health, 2022).
Below are five steps you can take to help someone in emotional pain:
- Ask: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It’s not an easy question, but studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase chances for suicide or suicidal thoughts.
- Keep Them Safe: Reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention. While this is not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing or disabling the lethal means can make a difference.
- Be There: Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Research suggests acknowledging and talking about suicide may in fact reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts.
- Get Connected: Save the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number (call or text 988) and the Crisis Text Line number (741741) in your phone so they’re there if you or your loved ones need them. You can also help make a connection with a trusted individual like a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional.
- Stay Connected: Staying in touch after a crisis or after being discharged from care can make a difference. Studies have shown the number of suicide deaths goes down when someone follows up with the at-risk person.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used medically to treat severe pain. Unfortunately, fentanyl is also illicitly manufactured and has driven an increase in drug overdose deaths both nationally and locally. In Minnesota, overdose deaths involving fentanyl increased 81% from 2019 to 2020 (MDH, 2021). If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid use, there are a number of tools and resources available to help.
Fentanyl Test Strips: Fentanyl test strips are a type of drug test that can detect the presence of fentanyl in various kinds of drugs. They are a harm reduction test used to find fentanyl in drugs prior to consumption, in an effort to prevent fentanyl overdose.
Naloxone: Naloxone (also known as Narcan) is a medication that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose and can save lives. Some people choose to keep this on hand, in case of an emergency.
Help Get Connected: Call 911 if you suspect someone has overdosed and try to help the person onto his or her side to prevent choking. Also, remember to save the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number (call or text 988) and the Crisis Text Line number (741741) in your phone, so they’re there if you need them.
Resources
- Dial 988 for immediate help and support during a mental health crisis. This lifeline is available 24/7 and is free and confidential. In the case of an overdose, call 911 immediately.
- To learn more about fentanyl test strips and Naloxone and where to access them for free in Minnesota, visit the Steve Rummler Hope Network at steverummlerhopenetwork.org or knowthedangers.com.
- ASPIRE offers licensed counselors who are here to assist you at the SMSC. Call 952.403.5241 to schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment.
Upcoming Programming
- Please call Tribal Public Health at 952.496.6199 or click HERE to make an appointment for the Mobile Mammogram on-site clinic on July 19.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (2022, October 24). Facts about suicide. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html
Minnesota Department of Health Drug Overdose Prevention Unit. (11/12/2021). Fentanyl Test Strips to Prevent Drug Overdose. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/opioids/documents/ftsforph.pdf National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). 5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/5-action-steps-for-helping-someone-in-emotional-pain.
