Printable VersionChristina Avis got the call in April that made her sick to her stomach, she said.
 Two community events will be held this week to inform residents about depression and suicide-related thoughts and behavior in addition to a suicide survivor conference. Jackie Leatherman/News-Herald Photo Illustration |
Avis learned eight months ago that her best friend’s 18-year-old son committed suicide by first drugging himself then placing a plastic bag over his head, she said.
“That’s been devastating,” she said. “The way she talked about it, was that she didn’t see any signs. The signs that were there weren’t as obvious because of his age.”
The number of attempted suicides across Lake Havasu City increased 157 percent from 2007 to 2010, according to police reports. And from January through July, the number of attempts had hit nearly 39 percent of last year’s attempts.
The number of reported suicides increased 54 percent from 2007 to 2009, but decreased 40 percent in 2010.
“From what I’m seeing over the past three to four years, the number of suicide attempts has trended up,” said LD Lumpkin, the clinical social worker with Havasu Behavioral Health who evaluates attempted suicide patients taken to Havasu Regional Medical Center. “Certainly, with the changing of economy, we’ve seen more and more people with more and more financial problems and pressure and depression. We’ve seen some of that show itself in the ER with suicide attempts.”
Lumpkin said he’s seeing more substance abuse – mainly alcohol – associated with the attempts in recent years.
“Certainly, the number one offender, in terms of leading to suicide attempts and suicide depression and gestures and depression is alcohol,” he said. “A large percentage of the (people) coming in who are suicidal or made suicide (attempts) have been drinking. Guys now coming in with maybe marital problems and substance abuse problems, in the past would work. But now with the economy, not working, the one area in their life that was going well, they don’t have that area of respite. So now whatever psychological or social or emotional issues, maybe substance abuse, all those collide together and cause a person to feel like there is no help. Once that person feels like there is no hope, then the idea of suicide to them becomes an option.”
Robert Starkey, who created the popular Facebook page “Havasu Scanner Feed,” said the volunteers who monitor the police and fire scanners and post calls to the site noticed the number of suicide attempts being radioed from dispatch to emergency personnel.
“We saw an increase,” Starkey said. “We listen to the calls that go out. We saw it as an issue within our community. That’s what brought it to our attention.”
The volunteers organized a one-stop shop for depression and information related to suicidal thoughts, behaviors and help. The event will be held Tuesday. A local suicide support group has also organized a conference Saturday at a local church for survivors of suicide to learn more information and coping skills.
Starkey said Tuesday’s event is to help residents learn about help that exists in the community.
“We are just trying to make the resources available and let people know there is help out there,” he said. “What are some of the unknown signs? Some of the subtle signs? If we were more aware of the topic and more aware of the signs to look for, we can be the ones to refer that person and put them in the right place that could possibly save their life.”
Avis said her work schedule prevents her from attending Tuesday and she doesn’t think her friend will go.
“I’m trying to figure out how to get her to go to one of those,” she said. “I doubt she will. It’s sad and frustrating all wrapped up into one. She tries to go on like normal. It’s not working. I’m trying to figure out anything and everything I can do to help her and nothing’s worked so far.”
You may contact the reporter at jleatherman@havasunews.com
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