Supporting Survivors of Suicide: A Community Response in Southern New Mexico

1. Supporting Survivors of Suicide: A Community Responsein Southern New Mexico Satya P. Rao, PhD, MCHES New Mexico State University & Margaret Short, DMin, MDiv, MA Memorial Medical Center September 24th 2012 Suicide Stand Down White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico sakrishn@nmsu.edu margaret.short@LPNT.net

2. Secretary of Defense Leon E. PanettalSpeaking at the DoD/VA Suicide Prevention Conference “This issue, suicides, is perhaps the most frustrating challenge that I’ve come across since becoming secretary of defense last year. Despite the increased efforts, the increased attention, the trends continue to move in a troubling and tragic direction.” Washington, D.C., Friday, June 22, 2012

3. The Context Suicide is one of the most common causes of non-disease related deaths in the United States and Worldwide. In the US more than 36,000 die of suicides every year. There is a suicide every 14.2 minutes. Nearly one million people attempt suicide every year. Since 2000, the suicide rate has steadily increased from 10.4/100,000 to 12/100,000 in 2009. According to Pentagon suicides among U.S. active-duty troops has averaged 33 a month thus far this year based on data through September 2nd 2012. In the month of July of this year there were 38 suicides according to service data. The suicide rate for active military has tripled from 2004 to 29.1 per 100,000 last month. The comparative civilian rate was 24 per 100,000 in 2009.

4. The Context – New Mexico • In New Mexico the suicide rate is consistently higher than the average, comprising of 2.6% of all deaths in the state compared to 1.3% of all deaths in the US.3Based on the Annual report (2010) from the Office of the Medical Investigator (NM) there was a 7.1% increase in the number of suicides in 2010 compared to 2009. • More men than women died from suicide. • Men between the ages of 25-34 years had the highest suicide rates (16.5% of all suicides) in 2010. • More suicides occurred on Thursday and in the month of May.

5. The Context – Southern New Mexico • Dona Ana County (with San Juan) had the second highest suicide rate following Bernalillo County.3 • Anecdotal evidence from the hospitals, NMSU-WAVE Program, Southwest Counseling Mobile Crisis Unit (responds to 911 calls), other community agencies and community residents. • Impact on individuals, families, and communities. • Services, funding, disparities and barriers.

6. The Context –Human & Personal “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”-Teilhard de Chardin 2

7. The Response – Holistic Suicide Assessment and Preventive Intervention “Assessing spirituality in addition to suicidal thoughts, plans, means and prior attempts can help determine suicide risk. What does the person believe happens after death (reunion, punishment)? Important dimensions of existential concern for depressed individuals include • identity • hope • meaning/purpose • guilt • connection…” Peteet, John MD “Suicide and Spirituality: A Clinical Perspective” Southern Medical Journal: July 2007 - Volume 100 - Issue 7 - pp 752-754. Special Section: Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project

8. The Southern New Mexico Suicide Prevention & Survivors’ Support Coalition A Community Response – Southern New Mexico • Guiding Principles – Education, Awareness, Support, and Action. • Mission – “By coming together as a coalition, we envision that the communities we live in will have the information and tools to raise awareness, promote education, support survivors of suicide, and reduce suicides and attempted suicides.” • The Aim – To take ownership of this issue, empower families and communities, and implement solutions that work in our communities. • The Goals – Seven Goals that guide our work.

9. The Goals --The Southern New Mexico Suicide Prevention & Survivors’ Support Coalition • Educate, inform, and raise awareness • Reduce stigma, shame, and secrecy • Create a forum for conversations and holistic multi-cultural collaborations • Provide support to families and survivors of suicide • Help facilitate support groups • Serve as a resource • Conduct research

10. The Collaborators - Academic, Medical, Spiritual, Public, Private… • Suicide Survivors • New Mexico State University • Memorial Medical Center • The Center for Grief Services • Mesilla Valley Hospice • Mesilla Valley Hospital • White Sands Missile Range Mental Health Services • Las Cruces Public Schools • Memorial Medical Center Cancer Program • Milagro Community Care • La Pinon Sexual Assault & Rape Crisis Center • Dona Ana County Health & Human Services • Hispano Chamber of Commerce • The Office of the Medical Examiner • The Mobile Crisis Unit, Southwest Counseling Center • The WAVE Program (Wellness, Alcohol and Violence Education Program

11. The Southern NM Suicide Prevention & Survivors’ Support CoalitionAdult Suicide Survivor Support Group Free peer-led groups are open to any adult survivor of suicide and held twice monthly. When: First and third Monday of every month Time: 4:30pm – 6:00pm* *Subject to change depending on schedules of participants Where: The Center for Grief Services 299 E. Montana Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005 (Directions: two blocks west off El Paseo Rd on Montana Ave, behind Taco Bell) Facilitated in cooperation with the The Southern NM Suicide Prevention & Survivors’ Support Coalition

12. Healing Is Advanced in Survivor of Suicide Support Groups 10 principles to show how people use groups to address their psychosocial needs* : 1. The “All-in-the Same Boat” Phenomenon 2. Discussing a Taboo Area 3. Mutual Support 4. Individual Problem Solving 5. Sharing Data 6. The Dialectical Process 7. Mutual Demand 8. Rehearsal 9. Universal Perspective 10. The “Strength-in-Numbers” Phenomenon *[Shulman, L. (2006). The skills of helping individuals, families groups and communities (5th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. Quoted in : Illness, Crisis & Loss, Vol. 16(4) p.291, 2008, “Surviving After Suicide Loss: The Healing Potential Of Suicide Survivor Support Groups”

13. Confidential Hotlinefor Current Service Members and Veterans Veterans Affairs launched the hotline in 2007 in conjunction with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. On average, approximately 80 veterans per day die by suicide. Of the entire U.S. population who die by suicide, veterans account for 20 percent of those deaths. (DoD/VASuicide Outreach -http://www.suicideoutreach.org/about_suicide)

14. http://www.suicideoutreach.org/about_suicide#source WHAT IS SUICIDE? HOW DOES SUICIDE RANK WITH OTHER CAUSES OF DEATH? HOW MANY DEATHS BY SUICIDE OCCUR IN THE U.S.? WHAT ROLE DOES AGE HAVE IN SUICIDES? IS IT COMMON FOR A PERSON TO MAKE MORE THAN ONE ATTEMPT? WHAT ROLE DOES SUBSTANCE ABUSE HAVE IN SUICIDE? WHAT DO STUDIES SAY ABOUT SUICIDE IN THE MILITARY? WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS THAT A MILITARY MEMBER OR VETERAN IS IN CRISIS? ARE THERE ANY FALSE BELIEFS OR MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT SUICIDE?WHAT SHOULD I DO IF A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE MENTIONS SUICIDE?IF SOMEONE I KNOW MENTIONS SUICIDE, WHAT SHOULD I ASK? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD DO?Yes, be sure to take action. WHAT IF I LOSE SOMEONE TO A SUICIDE?WITH SO MANY FEELINGS TO MANAGE, HOW CAN I COPE? DoD/VA Suicide Outreach Resources

15. Prevention of Suicide & Support for Survivors "Finding Meaning to Sustain Life: The Place of Spirituality in Suicide Prevention" Theme of the 10th annual conference of Suicide Prevention Australia, held in Brisbane in June 2003.