Votava\u2019s immense passion to spread awareness about this important topic comes from a very personal place: She lost both of her brothers to suicide within six months of one another. A Spokane native, she was inspired to bring her background in public health and deep understanding of mental illness to her own community.<\/p>\n
The nonprofit offers a range of trainings that cover suicide intervention and prevention. Courses focus on how to recognize warning signs, how to offer support, risk factors of suicide, what community resources are available and simple steps anyone can take to prevent suicide.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no demographic excluded from suicide,\u201d Votava says. \u201cOur trainings are open to everyone in the community. When you think about who should be trained for CPR, we\u2019re very similar.\u201d<\/p>\n
Common participants include those in the mental health field, case and social workers and veterans\u2019 services staff, chaplains and nurses. FailSafe also works with parents and families, as well as the Spokane school district.<\/p>\n
Spokane County has had more than 90 suicides annually since 2013, with a high of 122 in 2017, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiner. In 2021, there were 109 suicides.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s more important to look at trends over time, which are increasing locally, says Votava.<\/p>\n
Disaster psychology shows us that immediately after a large disaster \u2014 such as a global pandemic \u2014 the rate of suicide sometimes decreases as the community comes together, she says. As the pandemic continues to rise and fall, those \u201choneymoon\u201d periods will shrink and may result in a rebound of suicides.<\/p>\n
What are the warning signs and risk factors of suicide? \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\nSome of the most common risk factors: losing a sense of purpose, hope or meaningful connection, or feeling like a burden to others, Votava says. The latter is higher in older populations and middle-aged men going through significant life changes, such as a medical diagnosis or career shift.<\/p>\n
Regionally, rural and low-income communities with limited access to mental health resources also face their own heightened struggles with suicide risk, Votava says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are certain populations \u2026 at higher risk,\u201d she says. \u201cMilitary, LGBTQ+ \u2026 [and] we see higher numbers for young black men than other races.\u201d<\/p>\n
In adolescents, try looking for behavior changes or indicators of depression, says Bousley, the Spokane Valley teacher and FailSafe for Life board member.<\/strong>. Aggressive behavior, disinterest in activities and changes in grades or class participation can all be warning signs if they\u2019re outside the norm for a person.<\/p>\nSome students may suddenly alter their appearance or begin wearing long sleeves, Bousley adds. And some may even lash out.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of a sudden, they\u2019re needing attention,\u201d she says. \u201cJumping from friend group to friend group or blurting things out in class.\u201d<\/p>\n
The FailSafe for Life team also stresses the importance of limiting access to both firearms and medications. They partnered with Washington\u2019s Safer Homes, Suicide Aware campaign, which found that many people store their firearms safely, but not their medications.<\/p>\n
Limiting access to such things is one way people can help prevent suicide attempts.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/09\/FailSafe-for-Life-pic-2-1024x576.jpg\")
Katie Bousley, center, is a FailSafe for Life board member and uses her prevention training to advocate for mental health awareness and resources in her role as a high school algebra teacher in Spokane County.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
How to connect with someone you\u2019re worried about<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u201cThe big thing is just checking in,\u201d Bousley says. \u201cYou might be the world to one person and not know it. No matter what or who you are, you have the ability to make a change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bousley recalls another moment from work with a colleague who told her they were contemplating whether they wanted to live.<\/p>\n
Using her training, Bousley thanked them for sharing and asked if they had come up with a plan. After determining they were not an immediate danger to themselves and they knew where to get assistance, she says their connection became even stronger.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn that one moment we forged a unique bond,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd now we\u2019re able to talk more openly because they see me as a safe person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sometimes, Bousley says, all someone needs is to be heard and understood.<\/p>\n
How do we end suicide? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\u201cThe only way we\u2019ll be able to move the needle on suicide is to normalize the conversation,\u201d Votava says. \u201cTo me, that starts at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
To Votava, it\u2019s important she talk to her children about mental health and what happened to her brothers. She doesn\u2019t go into detail or spend too much time on it, but they\u2019re aware of what happened.<\/p>\n
Completely avoiding the topic only reinforces the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, she says. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five people struggle with some form of mental illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health used to be characterized as a character flaw; you\u2019re weak or you need to get over it,\u201d Votava says. \u201cSome of that still lingers, but now we know how much mental health is impacted by so many things we don\u2019t have control over.\u201d<\/p>\n
FailSafe for Life is proud to start these conversations, she says, and help the community feel more comfortable talking about difficult and uncomfortable things with loved ones.<\/p>\n
Learn more about FailSafe for Life or register for an upcoming training at failsafeforlife.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Some students may suddenly alter their appearance or begin wearing long sleeves, Bousley adds. And some may even lash out.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of a sudden, they\u2019re needing attention,\u201d she says. \u201cJumping from friend group to friend group or blurting things out in class.\u201d<\/p>\n
The FailSafe for Life team also stresses the importance of limiting access to both firearms and medications. They partnered with Washington\u2019s Safer Homes, Suicide Aware campaign, which found that many people store their firearms safely, but not their medications.<\/p>\n
Limiting access to such things is one way people can help prevent suicide attempts.<\/p>\n
Katie Bousley, center, is a FailSafe for Life board member and uses her prevention training to advocate for mental health awareness and resources in her role as a high school algebra teacher in Spokane County.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
How to connect with someone you\u2019re worried about<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u201cThe big thing is just checking in,\u201d Bousley says. \u201cYou might be the world to one person and not know it. No matter what or who you are, you have the ability to make a change.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bousley recalls another moment from work with a colleague who told her they were contemplating whether they wanted to live.<\/p>\n
Using her training, Bousley thanked them for sharing and asked if they had come up with a plan. After determining they were not an immediate danger to themselves and they knew where to get assistance, she says their connection became even stronger.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn that one moment we forged a unique bond,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd now we\u2019re able to talk more openly because they see me as a safe person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sometimes, Bousley says, all someone needs is to be heard and understood.<\/p>\n
How do we end suicide? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\u201cThe only way we\u2019ll be able to move the needle on suicide is to normalize the conversation,\u201d Votava says. \u201cTo me, that starts at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
To Votava, it\u2019s important she talk to her children about mental health and what happened to her brothers. She doesn\u2019t go into detail or spend too much time on it, but they\u2019re aware of what happened.<\/p>\n
Completely avoiding the topic only reinforces the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, she says. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five people struggle with some form of mental illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health used to be characterized as a character flaw; you\u2019re weak or you need to get over it,\u201d Votava says. \u201cSome of that still lingers, but now we know how much mental health is impacted by so many things we don\u2019t have control over.\u201d<\/p>\n
FailSafe for Life is proud to start these conversations, she says, and help the community feel more comfortable talking about difficult and uncomfortable things with loved ones.<\/p>\n
Learn more about FailSafe for Life or register for an upcoming training at failsafeforlife.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only way we\u2019ll be able to move the needle on suicide is to normalize the conversation,\u201d Votava says. \u201cTo me, that starts at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
To Votava, it\u2019s important she talk to her children about mental health and what happened to her brothers. She doesn\u2019t go into detail or spend too much time on it, but they\u2019re aware of what happened.<\/p>\n
Completely avoiding the topic only reinforces the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, she says. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five people struggle with some form of mental illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cMental health used to be characterized as a character flaw; you\u2019re weak or you need to get over it,\u201d Votava says. \u201cSome of that still lingers, but now we know how much mental health is impacted by so many things we don\u2019t have control over.\u201d<\/p>\n
FailSafe for Life is proud to start these conversations, she says, and help the community feel more comfortable talking about difficult and uncomfortable things with loved ones.<\/p>\n
Learn more about FailSafe for Life or register for an upcoming training at failsafeforlife.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n