Leaving The Valley

On average, 17 Veterans die a day from suicide, making them one of the most high-risk group for suicide. Many Veterans have experienced long absences from family, which may present challenges when they return home after leaving the military. Some may be suffering from PTSD or substance use. Others may be returning to rural environments, which can be far from services that they need. In this episode, we sit down with Brent Arnspiger, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Veterans Affairs (VA) in Houston. Arnspiger shares the robust resources the VA provides for Veterans struggling with suicide.

Suicidal thoughts are not contagious in the way viruses or germs are, but it is well researched that suicides may occur in clusters. There is also usually a spike in the number of suicides after a well-known figure dies by suicide. People who are already struggling are the most likely to be influenced by the suicide of a celebrity or member of their community. Clusters of suicides may occur in schools, families, or among people of common backgrounds.

One of the biggest obstacles in suicide prevention is that many people don't believe someone when they say they're suicidal. As we speak, there are people debating whether Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, was "really" suicidal. Suicidal thoughts are incredibly common. It doesn't matter how wealthy or well-known someone is. Anyone is capable of sliding down "The Ramp" to suicide. There is a tendency to dismiss the threat of suicide. Sometimes we dismiss someone's cries for help because we can't imagine that they'd actually follow through with it. Other times, we may feel like an individual is just seeking attention. When we ignore cries for help, we make it that much harder to prevent suicide.

Breaking up STINKS! It's hard even under the best of circumstances. After a breakup, people often describe feelings of depression, anxiety, and isolation. We know that feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and burdensomeness are related to suicidal thoughts. After a breakup, it's pretty normal to feel many of those emotions, which is why breakups can become a trigger for suicide.

In Part II of our conversation, we explore the substantial difference in suicide rates between First Responders and the general population. Research suggests that police officers may be 50% more suicidal than the average citizen and that risk is even higher for firefighters. In fact, more firefighters die by suicide than in the line of duty. Why do we spend so much money on physically protecting our First Responders but so little on protecting their mental health?

First Responders, such as firefighters, police, and EMS, risk their lives to respond to our emergency situations. In doing so, First Responders may see untold tragedy, experience bodily harm, lose colleagues in the line of duty, and spend tremendous amounts of time away from their families. There is a dark truth that being a First Responder means you are more likely to face thoughts of suicide. We focus a lot on First Responders' physical health. Not enough is being done to protect the MENTAL health of the brave men and women who show up when we need them most.

2020 was an incredibly challenging year. For so many, the simple act of ringing in a new year felt like a victory. Many are cautiously optimistic that 2021 may usher in healing physically, politically, and economically. Yet, 2021 is off to a rocky start. How do we hold on to hope in light of all we still have to face? For many a new year is also a time to make resolutions, but is that even a good idea given the world we live in today? If so, how can we make our resolutions stick?

In the conclusion of our three part series on teen mental health, our guest, Natalie Alyssa Sanchez, talks with us about the pressures teens face today and where they go for advice. Natalie, a recent high school grad and youth mental health advocate, shares about the sometimes overwhelming pressures to be academically successful. She also talks about how issues at home have a very real effect on teen mental health and offers some advice to parents about how to better communicate so that teens will listen.

In Part II of our conversation with recent high school graduate and youth mental health advocate, Natalie Alyssa Sanchez, we explore how and when she first learned about suicide. Natalie opens up about a friend of hers who practiced self-harm in middle school and later admitted that he was suicidal. We explore how to help a peer in danger, the pressure to keep their "secret," and attention seeking behavior.

In this special episode, we invite a guest onto our show to help us better understand the mental health needs of teens today. Our guest, Natalie Alyssa Sanchez, recent high school graduate and teenage mental health advocate, opens up about the pressures of academic life and the challenges of navigating complex friendships. She also shares her experience of how COVID-19 has affected her and her peers and positive and negative coping strategies.