During September, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Health and Human Services Prevention and Intervention Department held weekly events commemorating Suicide Awareness Month. As part of their department’s community outreach, HHS Health Educators Vurlene Notsinneh-Bowekaty and Melanie Nosie handed out information and goodies during lunchtimes at the Round House Café. 

On September 24, Nosie hosted a Suicide Prevention and Awareness webinar attended by nearly 100 guests. Nosie had previously facilitated a webinar presentation regarding suicide earlier in the year; however, she uncovered additional information while researching the topic and wanted to present her findings to the Community. 

“Every September, nationwide efforts are introduced to raise awareness and offer support to talk about [suicide] and help reduce the stigma,” said Nosie. “When someone attempts to take their life and it doesn’t end, a lot of times the person tries again. They may try several times. Unfortunately, the odds are against them when they continue to try to take their life.”

Over the time period from 2000 to 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 36% increase in suicide deaths. “Unfortunately, the numbers have gone up. Not only in September, but year-round,” Nosie added. 

In 2022 alone, suicide was responsible for nearly 50,000 U.S. deaths, which equates to one death every 11 minutes. For Indigenous people, the rate of suicide is higher. Furthermore, groups such as veterans, people living in rural areas, workers in certain industries, young people who identify as LGBTQIA2S, and non-Hispanic white people experience higher suicide rates than other groups. 

Suicide rates for new mothers have seen an increase over the years as well. “We [as a society] expect moms to be happy with the birth of a new baby. Postpartum depression can be challenging to understand, not only to the mother but to the family as well,” Nosie shared. 

Understanding the warning signs are key when trying to prevent suicide. Among the signs to watch for are recent changes in mood, increased usage of alcohol/drugs, raging uncontrollably and the person expressing that they feel like a burden to others. 

Nosie continued, “I know some adults have said to their kids, ‘Get over it; I have dealt with worse’, which minimizes someone else’s trauma and is not helpful. It’s not about us; it’s about that person and what they are dealing with.” 

Being in someone’s supportive circle allows for that person to share what they are struggling with. Most times it takes a lot for an individual to share a piece of themselves with another person. Nosie suggested we always must remain aware of our words and the tone we use. 

“If you judge and criticize them [for how they feel], that person will eventually learn that they can’t come to you for [support] when they need help. They won’t feel comfortable sharing what they feel with you anymore. We must be careful of what we say,” said Nosie. 

She used actor/comedian Robin Williams as an example of someone acting energetic and lively while inwardly dealing with trauma. In May 2014, Williams was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which is what doctors thought he had after he began experiencing troubling symptoms related to the nervous system like erratic movements, insomnia, memory lapses, paranoia, hallucinations, and severe anxiety. At the thought of continuing to deal with his troubling symptoms, Williams committed suicide a few months later, in August 2014. However, according to Williams’ wife, the Parkinson’s disease was a misdiagnosis. An autopsy conducted in October 2014 showed that Williams actually had a severe form of dementia called Lewy body dementia. Unfortunately, Lewy body dementia can only be confirmed by examining the brain after death.

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” said Nosie. “Whatever the person is dealing with, if they take their life, the trauma is moved onto the family. Robin Williams was the life of the party and cracked jokes all the time. Sometimes there aren’t any signs and symptoms that someone is struggling. We all have to be aware of one another.”