Friday, April 10, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 7
Lending an ear may stop a suicide
Listening, talking can be a help to person in pain
By Lisa Stevens John jlohn@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
When it comes to suicide prevention, ignorance is not bliss, a campus counselor said.
"Nobody likes to talk about suicide, but to be ignorant about it doesn't make it less likely to happen," said James Kreider, counselor at KU Counseling and Psychological Services.
Though not all suicides can be prevented, there are times when the right word at the right time can help. Kreider said.
During initial patient assessment, CAPS counselors ask if the student has tried suicide or if he or she feels suicidal at that time. Kreider said most patients answer honestly.
"Sometimes they are relieved to be able to get it out in the open and talk about it," he said.
The vast majority of students say they are not suicidal, although depression or anxiety may have led them to consider it at another time. Kreider said. Part of the counselor's job is to help the person see the light at the end of the tunnel.
"Usually a person who is depressed has just not looked far enough into the future to see that there are other options," Kreider said. "Suicide is a permanent solution for what is typically a temporary problem."
Marcia Epstein works with Headquarters Counseling Center. She said the center receives 500 to 700 calls and visits from people who are considering suicide or from people who want to help a friend who is suicidal.
The first step is to ascertain if the person already has harmed himself.
"If not, then we try to get the person talking openly about how they are feeling," Epstein said. "Since they have reached out to a counseling center by calling us, we know they're not 100 percent sure they want to be dead."
up to 85 percent of people who consider suicide give out signals before making an attempt.
The Rev. Thad Holcomb of Ecumenical Christian Ministries said
Holcomb, whose father committed suicide while battling lung cancer, said he recalled a statement his father had made that indicated he might have been considering suicide.
"But at the time I wasn't listening to him in terms of suicide," Holcomb said.
One of the biggest myths about suicide is people who talk about suicide don't do it, Holcomb said.
"That's untrue," Holcumb said.
"Most people will talk about it. It might be just a passing comment. They may say, 'Sometimes I feel so down I just want to end it.'
Another myth is there is nothing you can do to prevent a suicide.
"People can sometimes prevent a suicide by being attentive, by listening, by being non-judgmental," Holcomb said.
If someone thinks a person is suicidal, he or she should contact a person who is knowledgeable about suicidal tendencies, Holcomb said.
Another possibility is to make a contract with the person.
339 suicides committed
278 were males
61 females
"You can sav. 'I think you're
KANSAS SUICIDES IN 1996
Breakdown by age of the suicide victims:
5-14: 4
15-24: 60
25-34: 55
35-44: 84
45-54: 38
55-64: 28
65-74: 26
75-84: 35
85 and older: 9
(eeling suicidal. Will you call me tomorrow at ?? If you don't, then I will know something is wrong and I will call for help. But don't say you're going to do something if you won't follow through."
Most people have some suicidal thoughts at some time in their lives, Holcomb said.
"People who have suicidal thoughts are not crazy, they are just normal people who are in pain."
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