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In honor of National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, the Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast (SPSCC) hosted a luncheon for local mental health service providers and organizations at Paine’s Restaurant in Hollister on Sept. 6. (Tuesday, Sept. 10, is Suicide Prevention Day.)
The nearly 100 guests heard from such speakers as SPSCC program director Andrea Tolaio and San Benito County Behavioral Health director Dana Edgull. There were also as personal stories from youth, veterans, veteran supporters, and those personally affected by suicide or suicide attempts. A video in English and Spanish was shown to inform guests of action steps to take for someone who may have suicidal thoughts.
“We wanted to focus on creating the community connection via the providers to make the partnerships stronger to better serve the community,” public relations consultant Esmeralda Owen told BenitoLink.
Shannon Gomez with San Benito County Behavioral Health spoke of how she saw youth who were affected from the isolation brought on by the COVID-19 shutdown.
“It was reported that there was a frequency of anxiety and depression within the first year of COVID and the population most affected was youth,” she said. “They ran into challenges when they returned [to in-person school]. They were struggling with connection, low motivation, engagement, as well as just the structure that was available. So the challenges that we were running into, or that we still kind of run into, is the low motivation among individuals and their impaired socialization skills.”
Gomez said parents or guardians can help their children cope with the after-effects of the COVID-19 shutdown by being present, being patient, helping to reduce social media, engaging with youth and asking questions.
“They’ll give you straight answers if you ask them in a non-judgmental way because they want to share,” she said.
Abe Arredondo, Correctional Officer at the San Benito County Sheriff’s Department and founder of peer support group Heroes 4 Heroes, spoke of his experiences after discovering an inmate who died by suicide.
“I was diagnosed with PTSD,” he said. “I had to go through a program and during that program I was still emotional and suffering at the same time. I didn’t really reach out to my family. I didn’t really reach out to anybody else.”
Arredondo said a friend suggested creating an organization in San Benito County that would help him heal, Heroes 4 Heroes, once he completed his program.
“That’s how we founded the Heroes for Heroes group,” he said. “I decided to use my personal experience for something good and to give back to the community; especially to our veterans and our first responders.”
United States Marine veteran Eric Wick, with Bay Area-based nonprofit organization Swords to Plowshares, gave recommendations on how to pay attention to someone who may show signs of suicidal ideation.
“Very, very rarely does somebody take their own life without saying or doing something,” Wick said. “There’s always a sign; all you’ve got to do is pay attention. All you’ve got to do is listen. Be there for them. Ask that uncomfortable question.”
“It’s so important for us to have conversations to break down the stigma and to really address the shame that can keep individuals from coming forward when they’re having thoughts of suicide. There’s a lot of shame around this topic and when somebody is suffering when they are experiencing suicidal thoughts, it’s really hard to reach out.
“We can be the one to say ‘I really care about you. I’ve been noticing these things and I am wondering, are you having thoughts of suicide?’ That question will not make somebody have suicidal thoughts. If you’ve never said those words, practice so that it becomes familiar and comfortable, so if you are in that situation you do feel comfortable reaching out.”
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, are having mental health struggles, or alcohol/drug use concerns, call or text 988. Free one-on-one assistance in English or in Spanish is available 24/7/365. Visit the 988 lifeline to chat with someone or for American Sign Language assistance.
To learn more about the Suicide Prevention Service of the Central Coast (SPSCC) and its initiatives, please visit suicidepreventionservice.org.
The SPSCC suggests taking the following five action steps recommended by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
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