Teen Depression Counselor offers Parents & Teachers Warning Signs & Tips To Prevent Suicide

By Published On: August 26th, 20092.9 min read

Could the champion’s death been prevented? Arturo Gatti, 37 year-old Canadian boxer was found dead by his wife, 23 year-old Amanda Rodrigues in their two-level apartment rental in Porto de Galinhas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The cause of death was announced to be suicide after investigations concluded that Gatti had committed suicide by hanging himself with a handbag strap from a staircase column more than seven feet off the ground on the Friday of July 11th. Gatti’s wife, once suspected of killing the former champion, has been released from jail. Arturo’s family and friends confirmed that the couple was having problems but they don’t understand why Arturo would commit such an act.

Could Arturo’s death been prevented? The Journal of the American Medical Association has reported that 90% of all suicides occur during or following a depressive episode, such as an argument, a lost relationship, or financial problems. Also people who have a dependence on alcohol or drugs in addition to being depressed are at greater risk for suicide. And four times more men than women kill themselves; but three times more women than men attempt suicide.

What we need to understand is that suicide is preventable. Most suicidal people desperately want to live; they are just unable to see alternatives to their problems. Most suicidal people give definite warning signs of their suicidal intentions, but others are often unaware of the significance of these warnings or unsure what to do with them.

 

 
Warning Signs

Here are some of the warning signs. A suicidal person may:
  • Talk about suicide, death, and/or no reason to live.
  • Withdraw from friends and/or social activities.
  • Have a recent severe loss such as relationship, or threat of a significant loss.
  • Have attempted suicide before.
  • Take unnecessary risks; be reckless, and/or impulsive.
  • Increase their use of alcohol or drugs.
  • Express a sense of hopelessness.
  • Be faced with a situation of humiliation or failure.
  • Have a history of violence or hostility.

Preventing Suicide Tips

Once you have seen the signs, here are some tips on how you can help someone who is threatening suicide.

  • BE DIRECT: Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
  • BE WILLING TO LISTEN: Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
  • BE NON-JUDGEMENTAL: Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life.
  • GET INVOLVED: Be available. Show interest in support.
  • OFFER HOPE: Other alternatives are available.

And remember that you are not alone. If you have a friend or family member who is having suicidal thoughts, you can seek out help at:

  • A community mental health agency.
  • A professional mental health counselor or psychologist.
  • A suicide prevention/crisis intervention center.
  • A family physician.
  • A religious/spiritual leader.

All of us will have to face difficult moments and disappointments at some point in our lives. Every single problem has a beginning, middle and an end, therefore we need to remember that this too shall pass and we should use every adversity as a learning experience that will allow us to grow. You are not alone; if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, talk to someone and seek help. For more information on how to prevent suicide visit our website Total Life Counseling.

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author avatar
Jim West
Adolescent Expert, Jim West offers expert advice to Local and National TV News & Schools Internationally and provides phone or face-to-face counseling in the Orlando area. Jim is an Author, Communicator, School Consultant, Nationally Certified and State Licensed Counselor and specializes in counseling for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). Jim has been interviewed for multiple TV, Radio, magazine and newspaper articles. He is president of Total Life Counseling Center and his Total Life approach accelerates the therapeutic & healing process by relating to children, adolescents and adults and incorporating wellness. Jim’s clients travel from all over Florida, England, Georgia, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas as he has been able to treat clients with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Depression and more with FDA approved supplements and Dietary Modifications. 85% of his clients have not needed medication or used less medication than when they first came to Total Life Counseling Center.

Filed in: Blog, Depression, Orlando

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Total Life Counseling Center consists of Licensed Counselors, masters level therapists, Español counselors, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, business coaches, and image enhancement coaches who provide counseling for emotional, mental, physical and spiritual care including marriage, individual, family, substance abuse and more. TLC’s family, trauma and marriage experts have been interviewed on National and Local TV/Radio over 200 times for their expert advice on Fox News, OWN, WETV, ABC’s Medical Minute and more. Our skilled counselors are relational, approachable and specialists providing therapy services in the Central Florida area including: OrlandoWinter ParkMetroWest, Windermere, Dr. Phillips, East OrlandoLake Mary, and Clermont, Boca Raton Florida, and Dallas, TX.

About the Author: Jim West

Adolescent Expert, Jim West offers expert advice to Local and National TV News & Schools Internationally and provides phone or face-to-face counseling in the Orlando area. Jim is an Author, Communicator, School Consultant, Nationally Certified and State Licensed Counselor and specializes in counseling for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). Jim has been interviewed for multiple TV, Radio, magazine and newspaper articles. He is president of Total Life Counseling Center and his Total Life approach accelerates the therapeutic & healing process by relating to children, adolescents and adults and incorporating wellness. Jim’s clients travel from all over Florida, England, Georgia, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas as he has been able to treat clients with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Depression and more with FDA approved supplements and Dietary Modifications. 85% of his clients have not needed medication or used less medication than when they first came to Total Life Counseling Center.

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author avatar
Jim West
Adolescent Expert, Jim West offers expert advice to Local and National TV News & Schools Internationally and provides phone or face-to-face counseling in the Orlando area. Jim is an Author, Communicator, School Consultant, Nationally Certified and State Licensed Counselor and specializes in counseling for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADD/ADHD) and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). Jim has been interviewed for multiple TV, Radio, magazine and newspaper articles. He is president of Total Life Counseling Center and his Total Life approach accelerates the therapeutic & healing process by relating to children, adolescents and adults and incorporating wellness. Jim’s clients travel from all over Florida, England, Georgia, Cayman Islands and the Bahamas as he has been able to treat clients with ADHD, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, Depression and more with FDA approved supplements and Dietary Modifications. 85% of his clients have not needed medication or used less medication than when they first came to Total Life Counseling Center.