MOUNT VERNON — “It’s something that we deal with every day,” said Lynn Agapi-Gilligan LISW-S, director of the Knox County Office of Moundbuilders Guidance Center. “... suicide thoughts, suicide attempts, suicide gestures, suicide talk.”
“We want the word to get out to people that there is help available,” Agapi-Gilligan said. “Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week in Knox County and in Licking County, Moundbuilders Guidance Center has emergency staff who are on call all the time.”
These are staff who are especially trained to intervene in crisis situations,” the director said.
She said loved ones may have a difficult time determining whether or not a person is going to harm themselves. “Family members or friends are encouraged to call regarding anyone for whom the person has a concern,” she said.
She said help is available through the new 2-1-1 phone number run by Pathways. “Pathways gets a hold of our on-call person,” Agapi-Gilligan said.
When someone has already attempted to harm themselves, or is threatening to do so imminently, Agapi-Gilligan said 9-1-1 should be called for immediate help.
“The first order of business is their physical safety,” she said. “The squad evaluates someone and transports them to the hospital.” Agapi-Gilligan said her staff is typically summoned to the hospital emergency room by medical staff concerned about the emotional well-being of a patient.
“If we hear that someone is at risk, meaning a danger to themselves or others, then we will pursue talking to that person and evaluating their current risk factors,” Agapi-Gilligan explained.
Economic hard times and job difficulties, as well as family stresses, can all lead a person to feeling they have nowhere to turn.
“We certainly have heard about a number of people experiencing economic stress and joblessness,” Agapi-Gilligan said. “These are very steady concerns for residents of Knox County.”
Any kind of very serious stressful circumstances can prompt people to be overwrought,” Agapi-Gilligan said. She explained people can be pushed to hurt themselves “if their coping skills are not adequate to match the situation they are confronted with.”
Seeing the signs in someone contemplating suicide is not always easy. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, some suicides occur without outward warning.
However, certain recognizable signs should be responded to. These include observable signs of depression, increased alcohol and/or drug use, recent impulsiveness and taking unnecessary risks, threatening suicide or a strong wish to die, making a suicide plan, or unexpected bursts of rage or anger.
Agapi-Gilligan said listening closely to loved ones who may be in crisis, could provide a chance to get that person help. “A lot of times people will say they are going to do something to themselves or others and a lot of times we ignore their agitation because we’re thinking, ‘They’d never do that.’”
“It’s important to listen to what people are saying,” she said. Urging loved ones to pursue a conversation with their friend or family member when they are in crisis, Agapi-Gilligan stressed talking to someone about their suicidal thoughts does not make them commit suicide.
“If somebody hears someone talking about harming themselves or killing themselves, they need to talk to that person and don’t leave that person alone,” Agapi-Gilligan said. “Facilitate them getting in to see someone who can be of assistance, whether that’s their family doctor or Moundbuilders,” she said. “Somebody needs to be evaluating and helping them.
“Listen, pursue it, and contact their primary care physician or Moundbuilders to assist in helping that person to get help.”
