I got the call in the middle of the night. It was my answering service informing me that one of my patients had a plan to kill herself. I was patched directly through to her cell phone. She had attempted suicide before by overdosing on pills. She almost died then and I was extremely worried that without intervention, she would die this time. When I heard her say “hello,” I knew she had taken some pills. She was groggy and slurring her words. She was barely audible and sporadically incoherent, but seemed to know she was talking to me. I had already called 911 to dispatch the police and an ambulance to her apartment. The problem was that I was uncertain as to whether or not she was there. She could not answer many of my questions except that she was calling me to say “good-bye.” Luckily I heard the police banging on her door and knew she was inside. They broke down her door and saved her life for the second time in two months.
Suicide is the eleventh most common cause of death in the United States. Most people consider suicide when they are experiencing deep emotional pain and want that pain to end. They are usually feeling incredibly hopeless and helpless in their current situation, and cannot see any other solution to their problems. The person may be suffering from a major depression or dealing with a stressful life event. It is not uncommon for the suicidal person to be abusing alcohol or drugs, either as a way to self-medicate (numb their pain) or to engage in an addictive process.
If someone talks about suicide, it should be taken very seriously. Research shows that people who commit suicide usually do talk about it first. It is their way of reaching out for help. Usually, they do not want to die; they just want to stop their pain and can think of no other option. The emotional pain they are feeling completely fogs their judgment. Most individuals who attempt suicide are suffering from some sort of mental illness, such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, ADHD, or schizophrenia, which causes chemical imbalances in their brains. When in a place of utter despair, the person usually needs the help of a friend or loved one to get the support of a mental health practitioner. This help may be outpatient therapy, day treatment, or hospitalization. In any case, intensive treatment is usually necessary so that they can be provided with alternative solutions and improved mental well-being. The good news is that therapy and medications can help most people who have suicidal thoughts and decrease their amount of suffering.
