NAMI seeks to start suicide conversations

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Hancock County wants to get people starting conversations about suicide, in the hopes that talking just may help save lives. NAMI Hancock County has activities planned for September, National Suicide Prevention Month, including a virtual vigil and numerous social media campaigns. And in the campaign known as #LetsChalkAboutIt, community members are encouraged to write in chalk messages of hope, support and understanding. Chalking is going on at the Gateway Plaza on the Main Street bridge throughout September. Chalk will be provided. People were already writing messages with chalk last week, said Bailey Kerr, director of programs. The agency is also involved in several social media campaigns to raise awareness, and people started engaging with these early on, said Brittany Schindler, director of volunteers. The virtual vigil, set to begin at 3 p.m. Sept. 20 and to stream on Facebook Live, will include a butterfly release, as well as dropping rose petals into the Blanchard River. NAMI Hancock County Executive Director Eric McKee will speak, and there will be a mini-butterfly release, and a grand opening of the butterfly garden the organization has created at the location. The garden has been attracting butterflies already with the flowers in bloom, Kerr said. Benches at the site are intended to provide "a space for people to have conversations" about suicide. She said NAMI is trying to make it more comfortable to have these uncomfortable conversations, adding that, the more we talk about it, the less uncomfortable it gets. And, as we are open to talking about these things, it indicates to others that we are "a safe person" if someone does need to talk, Schindler said. Kerr said it's good if people who struggle with suicidal thoughts give their loved ones "permission" to ask about them. In turn, those loved ones learn to ask the best way they can help. Kerr said as a person who lives with anxiety, she has had coworkers ask how to help if she has an anxiety attack, "and the same carries through with suicide". Ask, "How can I best help you?" she suggested. Kerr said NAMI Hancock County has been hearing from more people with mental health issues since the pandemic began. The agency holds a "peer to peer" class for people who experience mental health issues, as well as a "family to family" class for their families. NAMI also offers support groups, and coming to these groups may help prevent a mental health concern from developing into a full-blown crisis, Kerr said. "NAMI's all about building those peer connections," she said. Kerr said NAMI is not an emergency or crisis service, but they know how to connect people to those resources. Sometimes people call NAMI because they "just need to talk," and the talking itself deescalates the situation, she said. NAMI Hancock County has been sharing facts about suicide on social media recently, such as that 17% of high school students say they seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. And, "If you have experienced suicidal thoughts, you are not alone!" one tweet states. More information on NAMI Hancock County is at https://www.namihancockcounty.org/ In crisis now? The Hancock County crisis line is 888-936-7116. To reach Ohio's crisis text line, text "4hope" to 741 741.