Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility

Contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing distress or are worried about a family member or friend who may need support.

• Call or text 988

• Chat at 988lifeline.org You will be connected with a trained counselor. This is a free service available 24/7. Your conversation is confidential unless there is imminent danger for you or others.

Our demons die with us.

On a Sunday morning in August, 28-year-old Erick Valdez Navarro lost his battle with his inner demons. He climbed 100 feet to the top of a feed mill in Colby and jumped.

Our demons die with us. This is the challenge to those left behind. We cannot call those demons into account and sit them at an interrogation room to find out why they drove someone to take that last fatal step.

Our demons live with us. They go by many names — doubt, anxiety, fear, depression, self-loathing, addiction, guilt and shame and many more, some nameless and lurking in the dark, to whisper dark thoughts and push for even darker deeds. In that clouded mental state, suicide offers the false promise of being an escape, a way out, a final release.

Suicide and other self-destructive behaviors are symptoms of mental illness. Often they do not get detected until far too late. The fight with our inner demons is an intensely private and personal one. Family and loved ones may be unaware or intentionally shut off and distanced from the very real battles being fought.

It is vital to break down this barrier and let those living with mental health issues know they are not alone in this fight. We, as a society, must break down the stigmas related to mental health and ensure that no one stands alone.

Nearly 1,000 people die from suicide each year in Wisconsin, placing it among the state’s top 10 causes of death. Thousands of others are standing on the brink, having contemplated suicide, attempted or participated in risky and self-destructive behaviors.

Suicide is a worldwide epidemic with the World Health Organization reporting more than 720,000 deaths from suicide across the globe each year. Suicide is the third leading global cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.

For families, friends, survivors, and all of us, in our homes, workplaces, classrooms and communities, we must start the conversation about suicide and suicide prevention. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a supportive and understanding society. Through these conversations, we can break down barriers, raise awareness, and create cultures of support.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, there are things we can do as individuals and communities to push back the darkness and bring help and support to those in need.

Steps, such as creating positive coping and problemsolving skills, engaging individuals at risk and giving them a reason for living as part of a strong and healthy community.

The curse of technology is that as a society, and especially our young people, have become isolated and alone rather than being part of strong, positive networks of family and friends. These connections are key to combating mental illness and curtailing destructive behaviors.

Because suicide is often an impulsive act, we must take steps as individuals and families to identify warning signs and eliminate the opportunities for impulsive actions to take place. Steps, such as keeping medicines and firearms securely stored can prevent tragedies from taking place.

No one should be left to fight their demons alone. We as families and communities must stand together and give the support and resources necessary to win these battles.