Pawnee Mental Health continues to help those struggling after losing a loved one to suicide.
Robbin Cole, Pawnee Mental Health Executive Director tells KMAN that November 21st is National Survivor of Suicide Loss Day. This day is for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. She says they hold an event each year that features a showing of a documentary featuring interviews with those who have lost loved ones due to suicide. She talks about the documentary showing this year- “The Journey”. She says the film tells a story about a diverse group of survivors.
“It does it in such a way that I think that anybody who listens in or watches will find somebody whose story of loss resonates with them,” Cole says. “They’ll find some nuggets of truth, some nuggets of connection that they can relate to in this documentary.”
Cole says the documentaries they show each year offer messages of growth, resilience, and connections with others and stresses the importance to not suffer alone as a survivor of suicide loss.
“There are many other people who have also experienced significant loss and are going through significant times of grief as a result of that loss,” Cole adds. “There are resources that are available and I would just encourage them to reach out for support especially during this holiday season when things can be so difficult.”
The National Survivor of Suicide Loss Day event will be virtual this year. Cole says the film showing will be from 10 to 11 AM on November 21st and can be found on the Pawnee Mental Health Facebook page.
Cole adds that suicide numbers are staggering and have risen during the pandemic. Cole says that nearly 800,000 people die each year worldwide due to suicide. That is one person every 40 seconds. She talks about how serious the suicide numbers are.
“It’s the second leading cause of death in the world for people age 15 to 24,” Cole says. “In the United States its the tenth leading cause of death for all ages.”
Cole encourages those who have considered suicide to reach out to one of the many resources in the area such as the Suicide Hotline or Pawnee Mental Health Services.
“They may also walk in at 1558 Hayes Drive,” she says.” There are people there who can talk to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.”
Cole finishes by saying that help is always available and things are never as bad as they seem.
