It’s not too late call 988

MT PLEASANT — Calling 911 for emergencies makes sense, however, beginning July 16 Iowans will call 988 in instances of mental health emergencies.

988 will connect the caller directly to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline which is currently 800-273-8255.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention most recent data, 552 Iowans died by suicide in 2020, up from 333 in 2005.

WACO High School’s senior class of 30 students lost a class mate by suicide this past school year.

Fairfield High School lost one student and one alumni.

Washington Middle School students’ grieved one classmate who died by suicide.

All in this small corner of Iowa, and all in one school year.

The Center for Social and Behavioral Research with the University of Northern Iowa published the ‘2021 Iowa Youth Survey Special Topics Report: Mental Health Findings’ in March of this year.

This survey asks students in sixth, eighth, and eleventh grades about general mental health and presence of suicidal ideation in the past twelve months.

Of 15,398 sixth-graders surveyed 4,050 answered yes to a question affirming depressive thoughts and behavior.

4,917 of 16,956 eighth-graders and 4,860 of 13,501 eleventh graders surveyed also answered in the affirmative.

Nearly 14,000 Iowa students answered that they felt, “so sad or hopeless almost everyday for two weeks or more in a row that they stopped doing some of their usual activities.”

Over 3,741 of these students admitted to having thoughts of wanting to kill themselves in the past 12 months.

Worse yet, 2,173 of those who had thought about suicide, made unsuccessful attempts at suicide with about 25% of those having to seek out medical attention.

These are not the young people who died by suicide.

These are not part of the 552 Iowans of every age who have died by suicide, but these are the ones that can be helped.

“Mental health is part of our overall health, and is just as important as taking care of your physical health. We want Iowans to prioritize both,” Director of the Department of Health and Human Services Kelly Garcia said.

How can Iowans prioritize their mental health and specifically, the mental health of their children?

Your Life Iowa is a service provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health that works to help anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts, mental health, alcohol, drugs, or gambling.

“We walk beside you so you’re never alone,” Your Life Iowa’s website states with the information to make contact with someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“After the last two years of pandemic living, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being,” the Your Life Iowa website states.

For those who are ready to ask for help, it may still be daunting to reach out.

Your Life Iowa encourages these Iowans, though, when they state, “You can find support for whatever challenge you’re facing. No judging. Just helping.”

Your Life Iowa can be reached via phone call: (855) 581-8111, text message: (855) 895-8398, or chat: www.yourlifeiowa.org

Additionally, Your Life Iowa provides resources such as this list of warning signs of suicide:

Your Life Iowa is available through the same means for those who witness these signs and are concerned.

In fact, they saw a 126% increase in contacts made in 2021 verses 2020, and most of these contacts were made by those concerned for others.

Another resources is the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS).

“The unfortunate truth is that suicide can happen to ANY kid in ANY family at ANY time!” the SPTS website states.

WACO students were certainly shocked to find out about their classmate’s death by suicide.

She was characterized as someone who appeared to have it all together.

She was on homecoming court, a good NHS inducted student, active in church, and loved her job, her family, and boyfriend.

Yet, just over a month after being named homecoming queen, those students were left asking why in the wake of her death.

The SPTS has resources including how to talk to your child about suicide, medication, after an unsuccessful attempt, even after their friend attempts or dies by suicide, and many others.

This specific corner of Iowa containing Jefferson, Henry, and Washington counties are stepping up their game, as well.

This January Fairfield Community School District held a meeting about mental health services, and the Jefferson County Iowa State Extension Office hosted a suicide prevention workshop in February.

The prevention workshop consisted of the ‘Question. Persuade. Refer.’ method to help save a life from suicide.

Kirkwood’s Washington campus held a suicide prevention town hall in April which had resource tables, a panel discussion from local experts, and a vendor trade show with over a dozen local agencies and resources which provided information about mental health, suicide awareness, and prevention.

Mt. Pleasant Community School District paired up with this The JBR foundation and Signs of Suicide program as they hosted ‘May it be Healthy’ May 3.

The purpose of the event was to give the community, students, teachers, and parents all similar language so they could communicate through these difficult topics.

The JBR Foundation is another resource available specifically for southeast Iowa schools.

“By providing funding and educational programs to schools and other youth organizations in and around Southeast Iowa and West Central Illinois we hope to educate our youth on these sensitive yet urgent topics,” The JBR Foundation mission statement states.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com