Deaths by suicide appear to be increasing across Missouri

More deaths are attributed to suicide in Missouri than homicides and DWI-related accidents combined.

And the numbers are climbing.

Yet mental health professionals say stigmas associated with mental illness and depression remain obstacles for people who struggle to find solutions they need.

Suicide was a big topic of conversation Thursday as a suicide blog post went viral locally. The blog depicted the thoughts of a young man who wrote he had struggled with suicidal tendencies since he was a boy.

Like many newspapers, The Southeast Missourian typically does not report on suicides unless they involve public figures or happen in public places. Publishing details such as names and methods can be a contributing factor to other people considering suicide to do the same, some studies have shown. Earlier this week, police put the Osage Centre on lockdown while they tended to a 911 call from a suicidal man in the parking lot. Upon arriving at the scene, police found the man dead.

The lack of news coverage of more nonpublic suicides can keep the topic out of the public eye as a serious health threat. But tens of thousands of people in the United States die each year from suicide.

The rate of suicides in Missouri trends higher than that in the United States. In data released Thursday by the American Association of Suicidology, Missouri had a suicide rate of 15.9 per 100,000 people in 2012. This ranks the state 18th in the nation and higher than the national average of 13 suicides per 100,000 people.

Other data from the Missouri Institute of Mental Health show a steady increase in suicide rates since 2000, nationally and statewide. This is the first time Missouri has reached the 15-per-100,000 threshold since at least 2000.

Information provided by the Community Counseling Center in Cape Girardeau showed more than 40,000 people across the country completed suicide in 2012, and 960 ended their lives in Missouri in 2012, the last year such numbers are available, up from 921 the year before.

Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton said he determined 17 deaths were self-inflicted in Cape Girardeau County in 2014, with one other possibility. Suicide figures do not take into account those who intentionally kill themselves in ways that appear to be accidents. Clifton began filing suicide deaths differently at the beginning of this year so local data could be more easily compiled going forward. He provided numbers for 2014 on Thursday, but he could not immediately provide numbers for other recent years. Twelve people in the county completed suicide in 2011, according to data provided by the Community Counseling Center.

While suicide is a significant problem, mental health professionals say resources are available for people who need it. But first, a person must be willing to express how they're feeling, and friends and family should not shy away from the topic, professionals say.

"The most important thing is when you see some of the warning signs, such as being depressed or high-stress situations, just to start the dialogue with them," said Michael Hester, a licensed professional counselor and co-occuring disorder specialist. "Some people are afraid if I say something, if I ask them, I will put it in their mind. Most people are going to tell you" if they're having suicidal thoughts.

Having a conversation about the reality of having suicidal thoughts is a positive sign, and one that can lead to help, Hester said. It also is a signal to the distressed person that someone cares and they are not alone.

But admitting to suicidal thoughts can be a huge hurdle. Hester said people dealing with depression often describe themselves as "weak" when that isn't the case.

Struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts "doesn't mean you're weak," Hester said. "It means you're human. If I have depression, I'm not defective. It's OK to get help."

Del McKinney, director of education at the Community Counseling Center, said like some other medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, there can be a combination of biology and stress that can lead to depression and suicide. Much like a person can be predisposed to heart disease, some people are genetically susceptible to mental-health issues, particularly when high-stress situations occur.

Getting back to a healthy state of mind can be a matter of "learning to manage stress, being aware of your emotions," McKinney said. Medication is often prescribed, and other methods can be used to help with the situation.

A side effect of suicide is the emotional wreckage it leaves behind.

McKinney and Hester said family and friends left behind can experience a huge sense of guilt after a loved one completes suicide.

The man whose suicide blog has been shared on social media expressed in his writing many warning signs and pleas for attention he said went unheeded over the years. But Hester said it's important not to assign blame without knowing the whole story.

When people reach the point of completing suicide, they are often not seeing the world as others do, Hester said.

"They might see everything as negative, when maybe it's not," he said. "They feel they're worthless with an unchangeable future; they may think their situation is not going to get better, and view the world as totally bad and nothing good."

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Warning signs of suicide

TALK

• Person talks about killing themselves
• Says he or she has no reason to live
• Expresses that he or she is a burden to others
• Talks about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain

BEHAVIOR

• Increases alcohol consumption or drug use
• Looks for ways to complete suicide, such as online searches for materials or means
• Acts recklessly
• Withdraws from activities
• Isolates from family and friends
• Sleeps too much or too little
• Visits or calls people to say goodbye
• Gives away prized possessions
• Is aggressive

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Having suicidal thoughts?

• The local suicide hotline is 1-800-356-5395.

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Number of people treated for contemplating suicide

The following numbers show the number of area people treated in the past four years for contemplating suicide. "Persons Served" are unduplicated; "Visits" indicate follow-up appointments for "Persons Served."

Persons Served Visits

July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014

Bollinger County 12 34

Cape Girardeau County 1,245 4,246

Perry County 232 774

July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013

Bollinger County 9 32 Cape Girardeau County 1,277 3,692

Perry County 255 766

July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012

Bollinger County 4 19 Cape Girardeau County 1,442 4,605

Perry County 242 737

July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011

Bollinger County 13 33 Cape Girardeau County 1,507 3,258

Perry County 210 360

Source: Community Counseling Center