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JACKSON, Miss.--This is Part II in our series on preventing suicide in Mississippi. Tuesday we talked about how prevalent suicides are in the youth population. Kris Jones, who's in charge of suicide prevention programs at the Dept. of Mental Health, tells me there are other groups with high suicide rates.
"The elderly population is another that is very much at risk," she said. Jones said the youth and elderly have factors in common.
"Some of that loneliness, some of that feeling that a situation is hopeless. And often times a chronic illness in both a young person or an older person is a risk factor itself for suicide."
I wanted to know what I could do if I know someone who might be thinking about killing themselves. Jones said the first thing to do is to talk with that person and let them know that you've seen some of the warning signs.
"Let them know you're very concerned about them and that you care about them and that you want to help. If you are a person who is contemplating suicide and you are displaying some of those warning signs, imagine if somebody didn't pick up on those warning signs. Imagine how isolating that could feel."
Jones said talking with a suicidal person and addressing it head-on used to be taboo.
"The elderly population is another that is very much at risk," she said. Jones said the youth and elderly have factors in common.
"Some of that loneliness, some of that feeling that a situation is hopeless. And often times a chronic illness in both a young person or an older person is a risk factor itself for suicide."
I wanted to know what I could do if I know someone who might be thinking about killing themselves. Jones said the first thing to do is to talk with that person and let them know that you've seen some of the warning signs.
"Let them know you're very concerned about them and that you care about them and that you want to help. If you are a person who is contemplating suicide and you are displaying some of those warning signs, imagine if somebody didn't pick up on those warning signs. Imagine how isolating that could feel."
Jones said talking with a suicidal person and addressing it head-on used to be taboo.
"What we really know now through a lot of research is that asking someone very directly if they're having thoughts of suicide can be the first step in helping that person to save his or her own life."
