By VERNON ROBISON
Suicide has become an increasing problem in our country, our state and even our communities in recent years. Though the root causes and the underlying social issues behind this sober trend can be argued from now to the end of time, the facts are stark and tragic; and they can’t really be argued.
A total of 47,511 Americans died by suicide in the year 2019. There were an estimated 1.38 million suicide attempts that year nation-wide. It is estimated that 12 million Americans have had serious thoughts of suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The numbers become even more grim within the state of Nevada. Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death in the Silver State. It is the 1st leading cause of death for young people ages 12-19 in the state, and the 3rd leading cause in Nevada’s Native American males. Nevada has the 11th highest rate of suicide in the country, nearly double the national rate. On average, one person dies by his/her own hand every 13 hours in the state of Nevada.
Now, it is easy for all of us in our sheltered and “safe” rural community to look at these statistics and think, ‘Oh, well that is a big city problem. Nothing like that is happening here in our little town.’
Unfortunately, we are not being truthful to ourselves in saying this. Even in our seemingly happy little communities, suicide has been an ongoing problem. And it seems to be escalating.
Conversations with local police officials have yielded some informal numbers regarding suicide in northeast Clark County communities. Local Metro officials covering Moapa Valley and Bunkerville estimate that they are seeing 2-4 suicides occurring every month. They estimate that more than 20 suicides have taken place since the beginning of this year. More than double that number have been transported to receive medical or emotional help after attempted suicides.
The City of Mesquite has been impacted with this problem a bit less. Police officials there reported that there have been three suicides in the city since the beginning of 2021. But even the loss of three community members to suicide is far too many!
No matter how you stack them up, these numbers are devastating! The problem is, in small towns, they aren’t just numbers. They are real people. They are our neighbors, our friends, our relatives, our family members. We know these people. Each and every instance of suicide gives a tragic collective blow to the entire community.
Perhaps saddest of all are the statistics that measure the community impact of these occurences. A 2019 study done by researchers at the University of Kentucky estimates that up to 135 people are affected in some degree by every person lost to suicide.
That might well be much higher in close-knit, rural communities like ours, where extended family ties and civic involvement run wide and deep. But even accepting those findings on their face, the percentage of our population impacted by suicide would be tragically high for our small towns. At least it is clear that there are far more people around us who need grief support after a suicide than we might expect.
We see from all of this that the problem of suicide is much more deadly than the COVID pandemic; and its effects are more widespread. So we have our work cut out for us in addressing this community epidemic. We need to learn not only to be outwardly friendly when asking our neighbor how he/she is doing today, but we must also be diligent and observant about listening carefully to the answer. We must learn to detect the subtle signs of mental pain in a neighbor, friend or family member. We must know the right questions to ask when we see those signs. And we need to know where to find resources that will help keep our loved ones alive. It is a lot for the average rural resident to know.
But that is just what makes events like last week’s Moapa Valley Mental Health Resource Fair so vitally important. Most of that information was right there in one place on one evening. Representatives from various organizations, agencies, groups and service providers were brought together and were eager to share what they had to offer. Attendees that were paying attention could come away armed with all kinds of information, techniques and resources to be a positive force for suicide prevention in the community.
This wonderful opportunity was the brainchild of Logandale resident Wendy Mulcock. Mulcock saw this mental health problem on the rise back in 2018 when she was elected as the Moapa Valley Community Education Advisory Board (MVCEAB) Chairperson. It broke her tender heart. So she proposed, way back then, that the MVCEAB form a subcommittee to launch a mental health and suicide prevention effort in the community.
The subcommittee was formed which included MVCEAB members Terry Holzer, Dianna Walker, Erika Whitmore and Annalynne James. This group of women went straight to work. They have since coordinated an array of community presentations, programs and events (including two grand MVHS graduation ceremonies) in attempts to elevate the mental health of Moapa Valley residents and to boost awareness of the serious problem of suicide.
Looking back, the timing of this campaign was opportune, and probably even providential. After all, in 2018, neither Mulcock nor anyone else had any idea that the COVID-19 pandemic was just around the corner. There was no thought in anyone’s mind about the mental health effect that it would have on local youth and their families. Yet these diligent and determined efforts from MVCEAB pressed on through some of the roughest of times.
No doubt, the work of this group of women have helped many; and likely have even saved some. These good people deserve recognition for their loving concern for fellow community members and for the untold hours that they have spent trying to make things better for local kids and families.
Of course, it took an entire community to pull off the successful event last week at the fairgrounds. It couldn’t have been done by just this handful of people. There were more groups, organizations and individuals involved than can be named here. And it would be impossible to calculate the extent of local manhours and resources that were devoted to putting it on.
Given all of that buy-in and investment, one thing should ring clear to anyone among us in enough mental pain to have suicidal ideations. It is simply this: You are not alone. Your anguish matters. There is a whole community of people that care deeply about you and are ready to go to the ends of the earth to lift and help you.
So please, if there are any out there feeling hopeless, unheard, unseen or needing help to stay alive, just ask for it! As last week’s featured speaker Kevin Hines instructed: just go up to anyone and say four simple words: “I need help now!” And help from the community will be there for you.
“Your pain is valid,” Hines said. “Your pain is worthy of (our) time. Don’t let your pain defeat you.”
