Abaici, I am very sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my prayers.
Snaps to you Jill for being a survivor. I had always admired the way that you presented yourself and knowing this only increases my admiration. I will keep you in my prayers too.
I cannot comment on minority statistics but I agree about the “keep it in the family” sentiments. I have known five people to die this way. Four were white males and the other was an Indian female. Two were my high school classmates, one in our 8th grade year and another the following year. After the second one, everybody watched us like hawks. The third was a co-worker and hers was a little different. I think that she was trying to get attention by swallowing a bottle of Tylenol and her husband was later then expected. The fourth was a friend’s younger brother. The last occurred this year just after New Year’s and he was my SIL’s BIL.
Last year for Louisiana AOII Day, our luncheon speaker was from a suicide survivors support group. It was very informative and made me recall things from my psychology classes. One thing that I clearly remember is that a suicidal person may appear “happy” because they have already made up their mind to do it. Of course, it all goes much deeper then that and it is not true in all cases. Another was about attempters who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. Nine people have survived (attempters) jumping off the GGB. The one thing that they all had in common was that they changed their minds before they hit the water.
Recently, AOII has taken an initiative on depression and suicide prevention. Our Spring 2002 To Dragma has an excellent article, “A Silent Killer Speaks.”
http://www.alphaomicronpi.org/conten...agmaframe.html
We are also introducing a new program called F.A.I.T.H. (Fostering Awareness In Teaching Hope). “F.A.I.T.H. shares information via an interactive cd-rom and is accompanied by the F.A.I.T.H. Journal that provides extended learning and discussion including small group activities. The Journal is a keepsake for all members to use as a reference.
F.A.I.T.H highlights statistics, warning signs and most importantly, information and resources for help. It also includes real life accounts from members who have dealt with these issues firsthand. F.A.I.T.H. seeks to de-mystify and de-stigmatize depression and offers a questionnaire to identify symptoms and information on getting help for this treatable illness.”