Guest Column: Mental Health And Exposure To Suicide

Arlington TX

17 February, 2022

4:50 PM

Description

By Ashley Elgin, Fort Worth Report February 16, 2022 The recent news of former Miss USA, attorney, fashion blogger, and entertainment news correspondent Chelsie Kryst's death is sobering reminder to us all that mental health struggles impact every person on some level. There is no amount of success, fame, familial closeness, or achievement that makes us immune to the difficulties of being human. In statements from her family and those who worked with her, she is described as a caring, loving person whose light shined brightly. Last year we saw a dramatic rise in calls related to suicidal ideation and self-harm, the calls at Lena Pope doubled in a one-year period. Cook Children's noted an increase in pediatric cases of suicidal ideation and self-harm. With such an extreme rise in suicidal ideation and suicides, it is clear that our community is in crisis. And we are awash with information, both helpful and harmful related to suicide. Youth exposed to suicide or suicidal behaviors within one's family, peer group, or even in the media can result in a phenomenon known as suicide contagion. This theory suggests that direct or indirect exposure to suicidal behavior can increase the risk of suicidal behavior, particularly among adolescents. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.