A message about the stigma of suffering

Leah Farrell-Carnahan, PhD

Over and over again, we hear stories of friends, relatives, and coworkers who are shocked when someone they know completes suicide, often reporting their loved ones were showing no outward signs of suffering. We also hear heartbreaking stories of people who knew a loved one was considering suicide but didn’t how to help. Collectively, we need to develop better solutions to curb these preventable deaths – solutions that help both the people who are suffering and the people most likely to offer support during a crisis.

According to a recent CDC report, suicide rates have significantly increased over the past two decades. This report also indicates that 54% of people who completed suicides between 1999-2016 did not have known mental health issues. This is partly because stigma shames people from seeking treatment for mental health conditions. But this stigma can also affect all people who are suffering – people living with or without mental illness – preventing them from being diagnosed and treated, connected to social support, and/or trained with evidence-based strategies to cope with stress or adverse events.

People who complete suicide are in immense pain and crisis before taking that final step. This intolerable pain is temporary, and the deep desire to die eventually fades with time, support, and treatment. For some, a vicious cycle can set in with intermittent episodes of suicidal ideation, and these people need to be properly supported so they can manage symptoms when they occur.

Many of us at mdlogix have been devastated by completed suicides and the suicidal cycle that chronic depression and mental illness can create. We understand that in order to prevent suicide, we must break down this stigma and help everyone understand these feelings subside with proper treatment and support. That’s why we created BH-Works, a web-based platform that proactively identifies people at risk for suicide and connects them to lifesaving resources and treatment before it’s too late.

BH-Works includes tools that screen for suicidal thoughts, intentions, as well as common mental health problems that can trigger or intensify suicide risk. Since problems with relationships, finances, health, housing, and employment contribute to suicidal thinking, we screen for those issues too.

We know these problems don’t discriminate, so we made sure our tools could be accessed anywhere people live, work, or receive care. Research suggests that people respond more honestly in a private, electronic format, so our assessments can be self-reported on a tablet, laptop, or mobile device. We partner with schools, health systems, and employers to deliver screenings in settings where people feel comfortable and safe sharing sensitive information. With permission, a screening report is automatically sent to trained staff who can link people to immediate care and support.

Learn about BH-Works screening.

And remember: If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889) or the Crisis Text Line by texting 741741.