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How Are You Today?

Hello Family,

How are you today? This is a question we ask multiple times during the day. The typical response is I'm fine or OK. We walk away and go on to the next "How are you today?" We don't think twice about it. But, sometimes, I'm fine or I'm OK is just a mask for the way they really feel.

You may be wondering what's this all about. Well, yesterday was World Mental Health Day. Mental health is a global issue that also lives in our community. For some of us, it lives right in our homes.

Let's talk for a moment about suicide. Mental illness is one of the major causes of suicide. There was a time when we rarely heard about someone committing suicide. Those times are changing and so are the demographics. Suicide among middle schoolers is on the rise. According to a 2016 CDC report, suicide is one of the leading causes of death among children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24. In particular, the percent increase in suicide rates for females was greatest for those aged 10–14.

Why?!  Why are our children turning to suicide to solve their problems? It's the pressure. Between extracurricular activities and academic achievement, organized athletics and outward appearance, the pressure to be the best weighs heavy on most young minds. Then, add on these factors: social media, cyberbullying, and the normalization of self-harm and suicide in media. That's a lot for adults to handle. It's really tough for teens. 

You may think this doesn't affect us. But, it does. Right here in Alabama, there have been at least 3 highly publicized youth suicides in the last 2 years. It happens more than you may think. Look at these stats for Alabama.

https://afsp.org/about-suicide/state-fact-sheets/#Alabama
What can we do to try to prevent it? Pay attention to your children and their friends. Talk to them. Ask them "How are you today?" Pay attention to their words and the nonverbals. Seek help if you need it.

Know the Warning Signs
Ask the Right Questions
Seek Help
·      Talking about wanting to die
·      Talking about feeling trapped
·      Acting anxious or agitated
·      Behaving recklessly
·      Changes in mood, diet, or sleeping patterns
·      Becoming socially isolated
·      Decline in school performance
·      Giving away belongings
·      Poems, essays, and drawings that refer to death
·      Dramatic change in appearance
·      Sense of guilt, shame, or rejection
·      Talking about feeling unbearable pain, or feeling like a burden to others
·       How are you today?
·       How are you coping with what’s been happening in your life? 
·       Do you ever feel like just giving up?
·       Are you thinking about dying?
·       Are you thinking about hurting yourself?
·       Are you thinking about suicide?
·       Have you ever thought about suicide before, or tried to harm yourself before?
·       Have you thought about how or when you’d do it?
·       Do you have access to weapons or things that can be used as weapons to harm yourself?
·      Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
·      Text “START” to 741-741
·      Chat online:   suicidepreventonlifeline.org


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Location: Pleasant Grove, AL, USA

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