Independent Perspective 1675 with guest Cathie Campbell discussing the Holiday Suicide Myth and the need to seek support throughout the year. 

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Cathie Campbell, Assistant Director of Mental Health PEER Connection (MHPC) and I’m your host Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program Cathie.

Guest:  Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Host:  It's our pleasure. Something that's very appropriate for this time of year is a discussion of what is popularly reported in the press as an increase in the rate of suicides over the holidays, apparently, because of so many people feel left out of the celebrations and other seasonal activities. But that's not really the case at all, is it? Can you tell us what you have discovered?

Guest:  In actuality during the holiday months specifically November and December, there's actually a decrease to suicide. And the fact of the matter is, it's the media who writes certain articles when somebody actually does have a bad time during the holidays. So they portray that as it's happening more because of the holidays. And that's not the case. Suicide is a year round issue.

Host:  In fact, according to the National Institutes on Mental Health, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there's a different time of year which is actually has the highest rates of suicide, do you know when that is?

Guest:  It’s usually during the warmer months, spring, but before that's too hot, so not really the summer area. I think that might be because the weather is changing. They don't really have a reason why, but what we want people to realize is we shouldn't look for suicide as an increase in any particular time of the year. We need to watch for warning signs all year long. We need to stay alert especially if we have family members, friends or colleagues that have had a past with suicide, they're more at risk for a suicide attempt than anybody in the community. Individuals who have suicidal ideation and also have a plan in place. Those are individuals who are most at risk for suicide. And there's no particular time of the year for that. That's all year long and it's ongoing. So if we focus only on spring or only on the holidays, then we may miss the signs that were there in front of our face the whole time.

Host:  So I guess you'd agree that no matter what time of the year it is, people who are struggling with concerns about ending their own lives should seek assistance. What would you suggest they do?

Guest:  Well, I believe that anybody who has a history of suicide should be in ongoing treatment, just as a preventative measure. There's a lot of suicide prevention programs that counselors and psychiatrists and psychologists have. So, ongoing treatment so that you're staying on top of it, and that you're always working the plan to stay healthy. In addition, I would keep the phone numbers on hand for while you're going through those negative thoughts, instead of entertaining that negative thought, pick up the phone, call the National Suicide Hotline, call Crisis Services, call your peer advocate if you're working with a peer, call your counselor, you have people to reach out to and usually if you have a counselor and a suicide prevention plan, then you're also going to have people that are part of your suicide prevention supports. And all those phone numbers should be right there on your fridge or in your phone as your favorite so that they're easy for you to call in those moments. National Suicide Prevention is 1-800-273-8255 and Crisis Services is 716-834-3131. In January 2022, the National Suicide Hotline will be 988, so it'll be really easy for people to remember.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us. You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guests today was Cathie Campbell, Assistant Director of MHPC, and I've been your host Ernie Churchwell.