How to help those considering suicide? Takeaways from Kingsville suicide prevention event
KINGSVILLE — Concerned about the threat suicide poses to their classmates, students from across South Texas gathered Friday at H.M. King High School to discuss warning signs and ways that they can support those who might be struggling.
Students from Calallen intend to produce an informational clip for their school's television program, Bishop students discussed a garden of hope and West Oso students plan to post positive affirmations in school bathrooms.
Orange Grove students discussed forming a school club, and Gregory-Portland students want to create a safe space on campus for students to decompress. Students from all over suggested posting the "988" national suicide and crisis lifeline number and links to resources around their campuses.
These ideas were shared at Kingsville ISD's fourth annual Suicide Prevention Symposium.
"It's something that a lot of people hesitate talking about, but it's good that we can talk about such a hard topic," H.M. King High School junior Audrey Fortmeyer said. "Having this energy here, it shows things really can get better."
This is the second year H.M. King High School senior Samantha Cruz attended the symposium. The presentations drove home how big of an impact suicide can have on an individual's loved ones and community, she said.
"When somebody passes away from the area because of suicide, it affects us all," Cruz said.
Here are some warning signs for suicidal behavior:Information about how to help a friend or loved one who is thinking about suicide is available online at 988lifeline.org/help-someone-else . The website also includes guidance for active listening.
Five evidence-based steps for helping someone in crisis are to ask, be there for them, help keep them safe, help them connect and to follow up.
Here are some takeaways:
The event was hosted in collaboration with school districts in Alice, Banquete, Bishop, Calallen, Gregory-Portland, Ingleside, Karnes City, London, Mathis, Orange Grove, Premont, Ricardo, Riviera, Robstown, San Diego, Santa Gertrudis and Victoria.
The event is a continuation of a youth suicide prevention movement that began in the Coastal Bend in 2018. After one student attempted suicide and two more died by suicide from one school in the span of a couple of months, students began working to bring attention to the issue and worked with Texas state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, to pass legislation making September Suicide Awareness Month in Texas.
This effort included Kingsville Independent School District Superintendent Cissy Reynolds-Perez and her daughter, then a teenager who had lost a friend to suicide.
"A lot of what we kept hearing was people don't like to talk about suicide because they feel like if we talk about it, it may happen, and that was a real fear," Reynolds-Perez said. "But if we talk about it, maybe that could bring down some of the statistics."
By creating a conversation, the students and educators hope that anyone who is struggling will understand they are not alone and feel more comfortable seeking help.
"If we can save one life, it's worth it," Reynolds-Perez said.
Steve Bain, a counseling professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and the former director of the university's Institute for Rural Mental Health Initiatives, told students that their lives matter.
"Don't ever be afraid," Bain said. "Don't ever be ashamed to ask for help."
Renee Weiss, current executive director of counseling services and the Institute for Rural Mental Health Initiatives at A&M-Kingsville, shared with students about the loss of her brother, a veteran.
"He expressed that he thought that we would all be better about him," Weiss said. "He was wrong. ... We are not better off without him. We miss him every single day."
Weiss said that it is important to take care of mental health in the same way that people take care of their physical health.
"When we're sick, whether it's minor or severe, we seek help," Weiss said. "We need to do the very same thing with our mental health, whether it's minor or severe."
Jessica Aleman, a counselor with the Nueces Center for Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, shared several resources, including the 988 phone number as well as the Nueces County Crisis Line, available at 1-888-767-4493, and the Coastal Plains Integrated Health crisis hotline at 1-800-841-6467.
The Trevor Project also has a free and confidential crisis support line to support LGBTQ+ young people, available by calling 1-866-488-7386 or texting "START" to 678-678.
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