I’m putting the 988 number right up front because it is so important, and I want everyone to remember that number. It’s the equivalent of 911, and it’s specifically designed to help anyone thinking of suicide or anyone who knows an individual who could endanger themselves. At the beginning of the call you’ll be given an option for veterans, or LGBTQ individuals, or simply stay on the line to speak with a counselor. And there are other support services available in our county. So please keep reading.

Suicide silence

Our community has too often been hit with shock in the aftermath of suicides. We have just experienced another one, losing beloved local dentist Dr. Jason Tynkala. The news spread in conversations from friend to friend — yet, did we know what to say to one another? Did we have any help in processing this untimely death? No, I’m afraid we did not.

The awkwardness of not knowing even how to talk about suicide is often matched by the unsettling mixture of strong emotions after a suicide or suicide attempt: grief, guilt, anger, and the questions that float up: “What should I have done differently? How could I have helped? Why didn’t I know?”

Pull Quote

Washington state has a higher number of suicides than the national average and Pacific County has one of the highest proportions of suicides in our state.

We all have stories whether a suicide has directly impacted us and our families or not. My sister lost a well-loved and extremely accomplished, whip-smart schoolmate in her tight-knit group of college buddies. One of my best friends tells a story about part of her family losing a father, a successful, wonderful man with two children still at home. Another friend lost her partner of two decades.

Every life lost by suicide leaves a wreckage in its wake. We all know death is inevitable, but there are different magnitudes of anguish about dying. My father died at 58, too soon, oh, far too soon; my mother died at 92 — we miss her every day, but she had a good long, wonderful life, and my sis and I were both at her side. But a death by suicide, at any age, can rip families apart at the seams.

STARS

This issue was brought home to me again by Karolyn “KC” Carroll, a member of Peace of Mind Pacific County. KC is the project coordinator of a new Peace of Mind initiative called STARS — an acronym for “stop the alarming rise of suicide” — and she is assembling a team of county movers and shakers to address suicide prevention, specifically for our youth populations.

“Washington state has a higher number of suicides than the national average and Pacific County has one of the highest proportions of suicides in our state. According to data we received from ACES [Adverse Childhood Experiences] many more of our youth consider suicide than we know. Data for 2021 indicate that in our county seven 8th graders attempted suicide, 16 10th grade students attempted suicide and five seniors did, too.”

“I started the STARS project to raise awareness of this issue. We’re planning a one-day conference for students in all grades 6-12 in all five school districts, sometime early next year. We’ll be including a motivational speaker, breakout sessions, role playing, even some art and music to engage students. We want them to understand the signs of suicide and depression and know what to do if they feel depressed or know a friend who is showing signs of suicidal ideation. This conference will be open to all interested kids. They’ll get a day out of school to go, and by the end of the day they’ll have a toolbox of emotional skills.”

KC told the story of a young female student who attempted suicide, was hospitalized, and then came back to school only to find that no one talked to her because they didn’t know how to. It was an awkward situation that left her feeling isolated and depressed. KC wants to change that. “We want to give kids the skills and the language to talk about depression and suicide.”

She’s conducting community meetings to discuss the project and is hoping both for adult volunteers willing to help set up the details of the conferences as well as funds to get the STARS project ideas on their feet. (If you’re interested in helping, contact peaceofmindpacificcounty@pompc.org)

Pacific County Health DepartmentThere are services provided by our Pacific County Department of Public Health And Human Services, though even director Katie Lindstrom says, “Yes, I’d say we have inadequate treatment services — there is a provider shortage. It’s very difficult now to find service providers for mental health counselors. We have the funding for vacant positions, but it’s difficult to recruit qualified providers. Most jobs require a master’s [degree] in social work.”

“We do have a Girls’ Circle that takes place once a week in junior high, that’s girls 12 to 14. They discuss bullying, image, and self-esteem. We’re also creating a program called “Mental Health First Aid” — it’s like CPR. It will teach people how to recognize depression and the signs of suicide and make a referral.”

The Pacific County Resource Guide (see attached) is an invaluable compilation of all sorts of county health care services. There are also grants coming up that will provide training for intervention and response teams: help for individuals who may be thinking about suicide and follow-up post response. Lindstrom is hoping an expert can be placed in each school district.

Willapa Behavior Health

And don’t forget that we do have a counseling and mental health facility in Long Beach, Willapa Behavior Health, under the management of director and CEO Salina Mecham. Mecham is not just a business manager; she is a licensed clinical social worker and has training in substance abuse, domestic violence, and treatment counseling. So she has an insiders view of mental health issues.

Mecham says, “We provide the only behavior health agency for Pacific County — we try really hard to be everything our community needs us to be. We run the mobile crisis team at 800-803-8833. When we get a call, you can expect to talk to someone on our team that can assess what is needed. Then we work with the family or the individual to create a safety plan to get you out of the darkness. Every situation is different, but we’ll figure out what the options are: we can help with appointments for substance use or mental health. Then we follow up for 14 days after the call or visit.”

Let’s talk

I’d say the main point for our community is two-fold: 1) we need to raise our awareness about mental health issues and 2) we can’t be afraid to talk about suicide. The more we can understand what takes a person down that dark path and recognize the signs of trouble, the better we’ll be able to create a different future for that suffering individual — and his or her friends and family.

Let’s be responsive to each other, especially the people we love. Has someone’s mood changed suddenly? Are their eating habits different? Has alcohol or drug use increased? Is violence an issue? Do you see changes in sleeping habits? If yes, get some help for yourself or for the person you’re worried about. In my life experience, more communication always makes a difficult situation better; and, for certain, not talking about a bad situation makes it worse.

Services and resources

Services and resources

Mental health support line: 988Mental (988lifeline.org) Health Crisis line (local, connects you with the mobile crisis team and/or designated crisis responders): 800-803-8833

Or text HOME to 741741 to reach a volunteer Crisis Counselor, Free 24/7.

Mental health, suicide prevention and drug overdose training provided by Pacific County: www.pacificcountyhealth.com/trainings

Pacific County Resource Guide: www.pacificcountyhealth.com/resources

Trevor Project, a suicide prevention website for LGBTQ+ young people: www.thetrevorprojecy.org

Mental Health First Aid: www.mentalhealthforstaid.org

Girls Circle: onecirclefoundation.org/girls-circle

Peace of Mind Pacific County: www.pompc.org

Willapa Behavior Health: willapabh.org

Pacific County Department of Public Health And Human Services: www.pacificcountyhealth.com