General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis story about the WSU player who took his life really underscores the power of mental illness.
On paper, this kid had everything. He was soon to be the starting QB of a PAC-12 school on the rise, and with one of the most innovative offensive methods minds in college football. He also had what seems like a good relationship with his family, and by all intents and purposes should have been enjoying his life as a college student.
I don't know what makes someone want to do what he did, but we absolutely need to be spending our time and resources figuring it out. And in the meantime, we also need make sure that the resources for dealing with people feeling the same way are both there and available.
Just a horrible tragedy. And enough with the thoughts and prayers, which are worthless.
http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/22125232/washington-state-qb-tyler-hilinski-found-dead-apparent-suicide-police-say
Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski, 21, was found dead Tuesday in an apartment in Pullman, Washington, according to police.
Hilinski suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and a rifle and suicide note were found next to him, according to Pullman police.
Officers responded to Hilinski's apartment to conduct a welfare check after he "did not show up for practice earlier in the day," police said.
"We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Tyler's passing," Washington State coach Mike Leach said in a statement. "He was an incredible young man and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him was better for it. The entire WSU community mourns as thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
<snip>
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)May they find peace. And may we continue to fight for a better path forward when it comes to healthcare.
Freedomofspeech
(4,223 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Our mental health care system in this country is so woefully underfunded. Our healthcare system is period, but mental health systems suffer disproportionately.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,319 posts)National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255 and other resources
The story, hat tip to ARLnow.com: Morning Notes News by ARLnow.com April 14, 2015 at 8:55 am
Notice to the Community
Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler sent the following message to the campus community April 13, 2015 - Ed.
Dear William & Mary Community,
There is no message worse than the one I share with you today. With profound sadness, I am writing to tell you of the death of one of our students, {P. S.}, a sophomore from Arlington, Va., who took his own life in the early morning hours today. The WMPD responded immediately after receiving a 911 call from one of his friends.
In 2013 {P. S.} graduated first in his class from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA. A talented student, he had yet to declare a major at W&M. {P. S.} was also a passionate performer. In January he played one of the swashbucklers in Sinfonicron Light Opera Company's The Pirates of Penzance, and he was to have performed this month in the premiere of a new W&M student-written, faculty-directed play. Many on campus have delighted in {P. S.'s} talent and wit, enjoying especially his comedic flair as a member of the university's Improvisational Theater (I.T.).
....
TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY
This has been a difficult and painful year for the William & Mary family and many of us are grieving. I hope the following might be useful in the days and months ahead. Especially in the wake of the deaths that have affected our community, I want to share some information specifically about suicide and suicide prevention.
About Suicide
According to national resources such as the Jed Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), one in ten college students has at one time considered suicide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death nationally among those 15-24 years of age. Almost all who die by suicide are suffering from an emotional disorder, most commonly depression. As the AFSP notes, "90% of all people who die by suicide have a diagnosable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death." Therefore, identifying and treating these illnesses is especially important; someone with an untreated emotional disorder may be more likely to attempt suicide in the wake of stressful life events.
Recognizing Warning Signs
The most effective way to help in preventing suicide is to recognize warning signs, take those signs seriously, and respond appropriately. Fortunately, people who are suicidal CAN be helped with the proper treatment. Common warning signs of suicide include:
Hopelessness
Rage, uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge
Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
Feeling trapped, like there is no way out
Increased alcohol or drug use
Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
Anxiety, agitation, inability to sleep or sleeping all the time
Dramatic mood changes
Expressing no reason for living or no purpose in life
Inability to see the future without pain
Inability to make decisions or think clearly
Decision to stop taking prescribed medication for depression or other psychological disorder
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
How To Respond if You are Concerned About Someone
DO Listen and offer support in a non-judgmental way
DO Help the person explore feelings
DO Widen options and explore alternatives for problem solving
DO Ask direct questions about the person's intentions; ask if the person is considering suicide
DO Communicate your concern for the person's well being
DO Recommend that the person contact a mental health professional
DO Call a professional yourself and offer to accompany the person to an initial appointment
DO Call the police if you believe the risk of suicide is immediate
DON'T say "everything will be alright"
DON'T dare the person to "do it"
DON'T tell the person about someone who "has it worse"
DON'T promise secrecy to the suicidal person
DON'T leave the person alone if you believe the risk of suicide is imminent
William & Mary Resources
There are many campus resources available to give assistance to you and/or someone else in crisis. Looking out for friends and loved ones is an especially important part of helping to prevent suicide. In a community as close-knit as ours, we can do a great deal to reach out to one another in support.
EMERGENCY -- Call 911
The Counseling Center, {area code, 757} 221-3620
The Student Health Center, 221-4386
The W&M Police, 221-4596
The Dean of Students Office, 221-2510
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255
After hours, the dispatcher at the police department coordinates communication with all on-call professionals, including live-in residence life staff, the dean on-call, and the counselor on-call.
UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 18, 2018, 6:01 a.m.
By Chad Sokol
chadso@spokesman.com
(509) 459-5047
Related Topics
Hilinskis apparent suicide spurs House panel to approve prevention bill
Get the FACTS
Sabrina Votava, a suicide-prevention advocate in Spokane, teaches people to use an acronym, FACTS, to help them notice when others may be likely to attempt suicide.
F is for feelings. Do they feel sad, lonely, in pain? Votava said. Were they really, really down, and then all of a sudden they seem elated for no reason? Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, shame and anxiety all can contribute to a persons risk of suicide.
A is for actions. Votava said people might be struggling if they begin giving away things that are important to them, quitting doing things they used to love doing or getting their personal affairs in order. Additional warning signs may include drug or alcohol abuse, aggressive or reckless behavior, talking or writing about death or destruction, or making plans or acquiring the means to harm oneself.
C is for changes any changes in behavior or emotion that might require a loved ones intuition to detect. These can include changes in sleep, eating habits and personality, such as becoming more withdrawn, losing interest in personal appearance or becoming more talkative and outgoing. If someone is acting differently than usual, Votava said, it never hurts to ask how theyre doing.
T is threats. That could be a direct clue or indirect, she said. They might be saying things like, I want to kill myself. I want to die. Or they might say things like, Pretty soon you wont have to worry about me, or things like, Im such a burden, people would be better off if I was gone.
S is for situations, such as getting into trouble at school, at home or with the law; being exposed to suicide or the death of a peer under other circumstances; and other life changes that can feel overwhelming. Votava said people should especially consider significant losses that have occurred in the past two to three weeks.
Condolences have poured in for the family of Washington State University quarterback Tyler Hilinski, who was found dead of apparent suicide in his Pullman apartment on Tuesday night.
After news of Hilinskis death surfaced, members of the college football community took to Twitter to share the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255 and plead with people to seek help for themselves and others who are struggling.
From July: Need help? In the U.S. or Canada, call 1-800-273-8255
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Ayuda en Español
¿Qué pasa cuando llamo?
Cuando usted llama al número 1-888-628-9454, su llamada se dirige al centro de ayuda de nuestra red disponible más cercano. Tenemos actualmente 150 centros en la red y usted hablará probablemente con uno situado en su zona. Cada centro funciona en forma independiente y tiene su propio personal calificado.
Veterans Crisis Line
Young Adults
ETA this comment to the article at Gawker:
Mississippi Tea Party Leader Commits Suicide After Conspiracy Arrest
jtstillwater {responding to Allie Jones}
Yesterday 12:18pm
Before anyone jokes about this guy's suicide, I should say that whenever someone with a mental illness (hi!) reads about a suicide, there's a certain amount of fear the thought process is sort of like, "Well I always tell myself I wouldn't do it, but clearly some people do, so what's saying that won't change?"
No question he did something awful, no question his political beliefs are unreasonable. But suicide is a horror.
Suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
And, yes, I do find this scary.
April really is the cruelest month (if I am not mistaken):
The Season of Renewal and Suicide
Why are people more likely to kill themselves in springtime than during the holidays?
By Brian Palmer
The suicide rate does not peak during the holidays, and the media should stop saying it does, according to a report released Tuesday by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. In fact, the suicide rate is highest in spring and summer. The holiday suicide-spike myth persists because it has a convenient narrative: Lonely people become despondent around Christmastime. So why do people kill themselves in the spring?
Possibly because they interact more. Doctors first observed in the 1820s that suicide rates spike during late spring. Researchers have since postulated and tested all sorts of explanations for the global phenomenon, making this one of the most studied questions in psychiatry. Theres still no consensus, but evidence suggests it has to do with so-called sociodemographic factors. During the winter, many people go into semihibernation: They work less, see fewer people, and are exposed to less frustration and conflict. That all changes in the spring, when increased interaction with others and the stress of work may trigger suicidal thoughts. The theory is based on a couple of observations. First, the spring suicide peak is more pronounced among people employed on farms or in factories who experience greater seasonal variation in the intensity of work and social interactions. In addition, developing countries with a higher proportion of agricultural workers see more seasonal change in the suicide rate than do developed countries. The magnitude of seasonal changes in the suicide rate is more than 10 times higher in Uruguay, for example, than in Belgium. Researchers have also detected a smoothing out of the seasonal variation in suicides in recent decades as more people move from farm to office. (There are smaller peaks in other parts of the year. Cubicle workers are more likely to commit suicide in the fall than in the spring, as are mothers who send their children off to school in September.)
In Britain: Male suicide rates: 'My father left and took his own life'
....
Are you affected by this?
Samaritans provides emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or thoughts of suicide
Its number is 08457 90 90 90
Rethink Mental Illness has more than 200 mental health services and 150 support groups across England.
Its number is 0300 5000 927
List of suicide crisis lines
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,319 posts)There is help, and with it, hope. You've just got to take the first step to seek it. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Talk to someone.
Link to tweet
UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 18, 2018, 6:01 a.m.
By Chad Sokol
chadso@spokesman.com
(509) 459-5047
Related Topics
Hilinskis apparent suicide spurs House panel to approve prevention bill
Get the FACTS
Sabrina Votava, a suicide-prevention advocate in Spokane, teaches people to use an acronym, FACTS, to help them notice when others may be likely to attempt suicide.
F is for feelings. Do they feel sad, lonely, in pain? Votava said. Were they really, really down, and then all of a sudden they seem elated for no reason? Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, shame and anxiety all can contribute to a persons risk of suicide.
A is for actions. Votava said people might be struggling if they begin giving away things that are important to them, quitting doing things they used to love doing or getting their personal affairs in order. Additional warning signs may include drug or alcohol abuse, aggressive or reckless behavior, talking or writing about death or destruction, or making plans or acquiring the means to harm oneself.
C is for changes any changes in behavior or emotion that might require a loved ones intuition to detect. These can include changes in sleep, eating habits and personality, such as becoming more withdrawn, losing interest in personal appearance or becoming more talkative and outgoing. If someone is acting differently than usual, Votava said, it never hurts to ask how theyre doing.
T is threats. That could be a direct clue or indirect, she said. They might be saying things like, I want to kill myself. I want to die. Or they might say things like, Pretty soon you wont have to worry about me, or things like, Im such a burden, people would be better off if I was gone.
S is for situations, such as getting into trouble at school, at home or with the law; being exposed to suicide or the death of a peer under other circumstances; and other life changes that can feel overwhelming. Votava said people should especially consider significant losses that have occurred in the past two to three weeks.
Condolences have poured in for the family of Washington State University quarterback Tyler Hilinski, who was found dead of apparent suicide in his Pullman apartment on Tuesday night.
After news of Hilinskis death surfaced, members of the college football community took to Twitter to share the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255 and plead with people to seek help for themselves and others who are struggling.