Looking back, I can now say “the signs were all there.”
He was impulsive, struggling with bipolar disorder, refusing medication, and a few months before had been caught making a noose. But still—no one did anything. No one asked him those hard questions, and ultimately no one ever thought he would actually go through with it.
The truth is, it never even crossed our minds. Now, all that loved him are left with questions. We have so many questions and the only person with answers is no longer here. The guilt lingers, at times somewhat relentlessly. I wish we had known then what we know now. I wish the topic of mental health was not so taboo. Perhaps what is most ironic of all, is that the stigma surrounding mental health is the very thing that prevents recovery.
Send Silence Packing is a traveling exhibit of 1,100 backpacks that represent the number of college students lost to suicide each year nationally.This is sponsored by Active Minds, a nonprofit organization designed to empower students to speak openly about mental health challenges and seek appropriate support.
Our NASW-CA team visited California State University, Sacramento on October 5 to recognize and participate in mental health awareness week. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students in the U.S. The tragedy of this shocking statistic is amplified when considering that so many of these deaths may have been prevented through mental health counseling and support.
When we begin to talk in a safe and supportive environment, we soon realize we are not alone. Isolation, silence and stigma are the big three barriers to receiving needed support. By raising awareness and working to reduce the stigma, we can all make a significant difference.
