Montana leads nation in suicide (home, disposal, organic)

[ursa22]

Montana's suicide rate leads the nation
This is a troubling statistic. Opinions?

[jasper12]

The article pretty much explains why...access to guns, lack of cultural acceptance of mental health treatment, high percentage of veterans and native Americans.

One thing that the article did not mention, is legalized gambling, which I think has a huge coorelation to suicide rates. Nevada has been in the top five states for years on suicide.

[ursa22]

You make a good point about gambling. Legalization probably isn't good social policy.

[fr8train]

The majority who took their lives — 77 percent, or 350 — were males.

I thought this bit was interesting.

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by jasper12

The article pretty much explains why...access to guns, lack of cultural acceptance of mental health treatment, high percentage of veterans and native Americans.

One thing that the article did not mention, is legalized gambling, which I think has a huge coorelation to suicide rates. Nevada has been in the top five states for years on suicide.

Don't be ones of those mindless idiots that blames guns for what PEOPLE do! Suicidal people will use anything at their disposal to kill themselves. Gambling? did a roulette table follow them home and slit their throat while they were sleeping? Cultural Acceptance? OK! People may have some mental health issues, but I'm completely sick of people blaming EVERYTHING else for PEOPLES actions.

[jasper12]

Mindless idiot? I discussed an article, and another reason to add regarding suicide...hardly a reason to be so cruel.

These people are mentally ill. They need access to treatment and therapy. Not the "toughen up" attitude.

[Matterofopinion]

I volunteer through various organizations and deal with people who feel suicidal/depressed. A big misconception is that most suicidal people are "mentally ill." Sometimes that's the case, often it's not. The propelling factor that leads people to suicide is an overwhelming feeling about a situation in their life, a huge adversity, is "hopeless." In other words, they can't see their way out of whatever is claiming any joy or peace in their life.

It's often easier for "mentally ill" people to overcome suicidal thoughts IF the illness is of a chemical/organic nature. The right medications administered in correct dosages can literally be life-saving. What's more difficult, and what I think is at the crux of this article, is when people have a problem they feel they cannot discuss or find the right emotional help for. It's kept inside of their minds and their souls, and eats away at their ability to "see" correctly.

I knew a man who was rather happy-go-lucky most of his life, but became overwhelmed with financial devastation -- job loss, debt, inability to support himself -- and it lead to his suicide. I think the "hopelessness" of the situation, his inability to see the future being any better, lead to him leaving this earth. He loved life, he had a big heart, he just didn't have the energy or capacity to overcome the financial behemoth that took on his life.

It's not always "black and white" but for the most part suicide comes when life simply overwhelms in one or more areas. The only way to counteract the overwhelming crushing blows to our spirit or our physical bodies is through community and the assistance of other people. People can provide hope to others, and the ability to live "just one day at a time" is often the life-saving factor.

For anyone who is feeling suicidal I would say this: Change is a constant in life. For whatever problem you are feeling today, there is a good chance the circumstances will alter or change (or have the ability to change) with time AND often if you can force yourself to see through parts of the tunnel you are in, there IS a glimmer of light. They key - and I'm not saying this is always easy - is to find the RIGHT human beings with whom to connect and say "HELP, HELP, HELP" ... let people know you need help. Now. Let others try to lift you over the abyss until you can walk on your own again. There's not a person on this earth that doesn't need a helping hand at some point in the journey.

[MTSilvertip]

Originally Posted by Matterofopinion

I volunteer through various organizations and deal with people who feel suicidal/depressed. A big misconception is that most suicidal people are "mentally ill." Sometimes that's the case, often it's not. The propelling factor that leads people to suicide is an overwhelming feeling about a situation in their life, a huge adversity, is "hopeless." In other words, they can't see their way out of whatever is claiming any joy or peace in their life.

It's often easier for "mentally ill" people to overcome suicidal thoughts IF the illness is of a chemical/organic nature. The right medications administered in correct dosages can literally be life-saving. What's more difficult, and what I think is at the crux of this article, is when people have a problem they feel they cannot discuss or find the right emotional help for. It's kept inside of their minds and their souls, and eats away at their ability to "see" correctly.

I knew a man who was rather happy-go-lucky most of his life, but became overwhelmed with financial devastation -- job loss, debt, inability to support himself -- and it lead to his suicide. I think the "hopelessness" of the situation, his inability to see the future being any better, lead to him leaving this earth. He loved life, he had a big heart, he just didn't have the energy or capacity to overcome the financial behemoth that took on his life.

It's not always "black and white" but for the most part suicide comes when life simply overwhelms in one or more areas. The only way to counteract the overwhelming crushing blows to our spirit or our physical bodies is through community and the assistance of other people. People can provide hope to others, and the ability to live "just one day at a time" is often the life-saving factor.

For anyone who is feeling suicidal I would say this: Change is a constant in life. For whatever problem you are feeling today, there is a good chance the circumstances will alter or change (or have the ability to change) with time AND often if you can force yourself to see through parts of the tunnel you are in, there IS a glimmer of light. They key - and I'm not saying this is always easy - is to find the RIGHT human beings with whom to connect and say "HELP, HELP, HELP" ... let people know you need help. Now. Let others try to lift you over the abyss until you can walk on your own again. There's not a person on this earth that doesn't need a helping hand at some point in the journey.

Excellent post

This has been what I have noticed as well as I have also been involved with people in desperate situations that see no way out, usually relating to loss of kids in a divorce, or having nowhere to turn when things went bad through job loss or injury that means they can't provide for themselves anymore, or age is a big one too. Productive, useful people suddenly no longer able to provide and feeling useless to themselves and others.

I think part of the problem specific to Montana is the isolation and lack of services, outside of your buddies at the bar, there isn't a place to go to talk out your problems and maybe get a handle on them.
Add to that we do have a culture here of doing for ourselves, pull yourself up by your bootstraps, put your head down and keep on going until you break through the other side kind of thing.

It can be devistating for intelligent, hard working people who have always been able to take care of themselves and others to suddenly be put in the position of needing help, where they can't solve the problem themself, and it destroys their sense of self worth.

Most folks need a purpose or goal to strive for and when that is taken away for any reason, it can crush the spirit, and if you can't find someone to talk to openly about it, with full trust and confidence, well the problem is multiplied.

Everybody who does choose something like suicide does it for their own reasons, this is part of the reason it is so difficult to confront it because unlike a disease, it could have many causes or cures, but until you know about it, you can't help them.