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Friday, September 11, 2009
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They hope to take steps toward suicide awareness
Staff Writer When Jessica Augustine's father committed suicide two years ago, she wanted to help others avoid the same pain her family went through.
Her only problem was she didn't know how to do it.
"It was really sudden and we were left with no where to turn," Augustine said. "It's really hard to get through that alone."
In time, Augustine found fellow Brainerd resident Julie Kletscher, and the two have been putting together a Brainerd branch of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The link between suicide and depression
Major depression is the psychiatric diagnosis most commonly associated with suicide. Lifetime risk of suicide among patients with untreated depressive disorder is nearly 20 percent.
About two-thirds of people who complete suicide are depressed at the time of their deaths.
About 7 out of every 100 men and 1 out of every 100 women who have been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime will go on to complete suicide.
The risk of suicide in people with major depression is about 20 times that of the general population.
Individuals who have had multiple episodes of depression are at greater risk for suicide than those who have had one episode.
People who have a dependence on alcohol or drugs in addition to being depressed are at greater risk for suicide.
Individuals who are depressed and exhibit the following symptoms are at particular risk for suicide: Extreme hopelessness, a lack of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable, heightened anxiety and/or panic attacks, insomnia, talk about suicide or have a prior history of attempts, Irritability and agitation.
Source: American Association of Suicidology
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Their first event will be the Out of the Darkness Community Walk from 10 a.m. until about noon on Sept. 19 at the track at Adamson Field in Brainerd. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Their hope is to raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention.
"That's one of the main goals of the walk, to help destigmatize depression," which according to the Minnesota Department of Health is the leading cause of suicide, Augustine said. "It's just an illness like any other illness, like diabetes."
Another goal of the walk is to raise funds for the Brainerd branch of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for local research and education. The group will host its first meeting at 9 a.m. on Nov. 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church for a National Survivors of Suicide Day program to help families and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Kletscher said she hopes the program will be like Mothers Against Drunk Driving - constantly active. She, too, knows the pain of suicide, having watched her daughter suffer after her boyfriend took his life this past spring.
"I don't want any child or person to go through what my family went through," Kletscher said. "It was a very guilt-ridden situation, something I hope other people can prevent. I see what my daughter is going through and it's been a struggle.
"Suicide has been such an emotional taboo, it's always been put under the table. That's why it's called Out of the Darkness. We've just got to help individuals who are suffering from depression."
The Minnesota Department of Health reported 571 people died by suicide in Minnesota in 2007, representing 11 deaths out of every 100,000.
Suicide occurs in all age groups. In 2007 in Minnesota, persons age 50-64 years had the highest suicide rate of all age groups, at 16.1 deaths per 100,000 people.
The number of Minnesotans who die by suicide each year is nearly five times higher than the number of homicide victims.
"Suicide results in the tragic loss of life as well as agonizing grief, fear and confusion in families and communities," said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Sanne Magnan in a news release for Suicide Prevention Week from Sept. 6-12. "There are simple steps Minnesotans can take to be aware of the warning signs of suicide and to help prevent it."
In the past 10 years in Crow Wing County suicide rates have fluctuated. There were two suicides in 1999, six in 2000, five in 2001, seven in 2002, nine in 2003, 13 in 2004, five in 2005, 11 in 2006, nine in 2007, one in 2008 and three suicides to date in 2009.
Despite the recent decline in suicides, Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl said public awareness and education need to remain at the forefront. Often his deputies are the first to respond to those contemplating suicide.
"People need to know there are people they can talk to before it comes to that point," Dahl said. "There are so many issues we all deal with in everyday life. It's important to talk things over with other people, to let them know they're probably not the only ones going through troubled times. Our main goal is to get them to seek help, to escape those thoughts."
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention joins several other programs and organizations in the Brainerd area whose mission is suicide prevention.
There's the Crisis Line, a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week hotline where people considering suicide can get help by calling 828-HELP. The Crisis Line also offers the Yellow Ribbon teen suicide prevention program throughout the county.
Mobile Crisis Outreach Office, part of Northern Pines, and the local chapter of the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill, also are available for help.
Carol Heuberger, Crow Wing County Department of Health public health nurse, said any outreach programs available are good for the community. Education, she said, is the first step in depression awareness and suicide prevention.
"The stigma causes more problems than the disease (of depression) does," Heuberger said. "By pretending it's not there it makes things snowball and keeps the disease from getting treated."
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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