New campaign aims to erase mental health stigma among elderly and help them to ‘live on’

ST. GEORGE — Country music fans recently saw one of its biggest stars extinguish her own shining light. Naomi Judd, the mother half of the duo The Judds took her own life.

Paraphernalia for the Live On Utah suicide prevention campaign, launched during a public event at the Southwest Behavioral Health Center, St. George, Utah, May 11, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

What may have been unusual to some was her age: 76 years old. 

But while many have seen suicide as something limited to teenagers, Judd’s death brings to light that the act of taking one’s own life sees no age limit. A new statewide campaign launched locally in St. George last week aims to not only take the stigma off those who face mental health issues late in life, but also give those around them the tools to help them live on.

Live On Utah” was created by the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition of public and private partners as a campaign to build awareness and take the stigma off mental health issues, keep people from taking the most drastic step to end their pain, and help their loved ones and friends see the signs of distress.

In Southern Utah, the Live On campaign will be directed specifically at the area’s elderly population where there may be many Naomi Judds – putting on the best face they can but struggling with depression and other issues that may have them considering ending their lives.

“Our seniors are very isolated. Sometimes they struggle with chronic illness or even sometimes terminal illness. And so those things, they feel like maybe they’re a burden to their family,” Teresa Willie, a prevention specialist with the Southwest Behavioral Health Center, told St. George News. “They think they might be better off without them. And we want them to know that they still have value. They still have purpose, and we want them here. We want them to not only just live on, but we want them to thrive and know how much they’re needed and loved.”

Attendees look on at the Southern Utah launch for the Live On Utah suicide prevention campaign, St. George, Utah, May 11, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George

Willie and other public officials held a launch event last Wednesday at the Southwest Behavioral Health Center in St. George as part of National Mental Health Awareness Month. Washington County REACH4HOPE, which acts as a local arm of the suicide prevention coalition, has received a state grant for a focused Live On campaign in Southern Utah.

According to REACH4HOPE, local data shows Southern Utah seniors are at-risk for suicide but have been underserved with little resources and support for suicide prevention. 

Willie said the new campaign will be aimed at changing that. But the target to build awareness isn’t just going to be those at risk of suicide as much as those who care about them.

“Part of this campaign targets people that are that are caregivers or family members or grandchildren or neighbors and learning how to just have a good conversation …  how to connect,” Willie said. “How to ask grandma, ‘Hey grandma, you seem really sad today. How can I help you?’ So getting them out, talking to them, connecting and letting them know it’s okay to talk about mental health issues.”

According to statistics released last year by the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Utah Department of Health, teens are not the most likely age group to commit suicide in the state – those in middle age (35-64) are, followed by people aged 65 and above. 

Chart shows the age and gender distribution of suicides in Utah between 2015 and 2019 | Photo courtesy Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition, St. George News | Click to enlarge

In a previous interview, Michael Staley, the suicide prevention research coordinator for the Utah Department of Health, it is a “misnomer that suicide is mainly a problem for teens” and that the elderly population of Southern Utah needs to be looked at as far as mental health.

“It is something to watch for among friends and neighbors in the older population of Southern Utah,” Staley said. “Those over 65 may be at a higher risk.”

But while they may be at a higher risk, most suicide prevention efforts are aimed at teenagers

“When we see a teenager die by suicide, everybody’s on it. You know, people are talking about it and they’re trying to solve problems. But when our seniors die, people don’t pay attention that much,” Willie said. “And also seniors belong to a generation where they don’t talk about mental health issues.”

The signs of living on

Signage for the Live On Utah suicide prevention campaign, launched during a public event at the Southwest Behavioral Health Center, St. George, Utah, May 11, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

It won’t be hard to see the Live On message around town. There will be Live On flags posted on street poles thorough St. George. There will be public service and other ads for Live On. And it will even be seen on the back fenders of vehicles – thanks to a bill passed in  the most recent state legislature, there will be a specialized Live On license plate that people can get for an additional $25 over a regular plate, with all the proceeds going to the campaign. 

“I think what we want to do is teach people how to have those conversations. So if you go on the Live On web site, or if you’ll notice some of the street flags up on St. George Boulevard, it tells you exactly how to have that, have that conversation,” Willis said. 

The words on the street flags: Get through, reach out, lift up, look ahead.

“If someone says I’m doing fine, we should ask them, ‘Are you really doing fine?’ Or tell me a little bit more about that,” Willis said. “We want to be able to, in a gentle, warm, loving way, ask more questions, dig a little bit deeper, find out if somebody really is fine or if they’re just blowing you off.”

Someone for whom the campaign rings true is the St. George Mayor Michele Randall. 

March 28, 2016, will be with her forever. That is the day her only brother Michael took his own life. 

In a statement, Randall said that his suicide left in its wake more pain for his loved ones. 

“If we can keep any family from experiencing what I experienced, it would be a good thing,” Randall said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about it.”

Vets at risk

Among the older age group at risk for taking their own life are those from the “greatest generation” who served America overseas in the wars of the 20th century. Those who cam home from fighting in Vietnam, Korea and World War II couldn’t talk about have post traumatic stress disorder. 

Thearon Crosby, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars District 5 in Southern Utah, speaks at the Southern Utah launch for the Live On Utah suicide prevention campaign pick up paraphernalia at the Southwest Behavioral Health Center, St. George, Utah, May 11, 2022 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

By most accounts, they were told to put aside any of the emotions of watching those among their band of brothers die. They were just “shell-shocked” and it would just go away. 

Thearon Crosby, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars District 5 in Southern Utah, said for some those feelings that have been buried deep for decades are just now coming to the surface. 

“Sometimes our veterans came home and threw themselves into life, threw themselves into work or study, and basically pushed all those memories back into a little corner,” Crosby said. “And they found that now that they’re at retirement age, they’re not as busy as they used to be. And all those old thoughts and feelings are emerging, and that’s why PTSD is such a critical thing.”

Crosby was at the launch of the Southern Utah Live On campaign and said it will be vital for this communities aging veterans. He also wants to get the message out that the same band of brothers they fought with in war can now be at their side as they fight to Live On. That includes weekly meetings each Wednesday night from 6 to 8 p.m., at the VFW post at 300 E. 100 South where they can talk about their hard experiences with those who would likely understand even more than their families.

“There are veterans out there that don’t feel like their families understand, because sometimes they don’t,” Crosby said. “It’s good to be able to sit down with somebody who’s been deployed, been in combat and understands what it’s like.”

Ultimately, Crosby, Willis and all of those gathered last Wednesday said the overriding message of the Live On campaign is to reach out the those who need help, and just listen. 

“There are a lot of us that we run through ups and downs in our lives and there are times when the downs get really bad,” Crosby said. “There’s no reason to be ashamed at feeling that.”

Resources

If you or someone you know is in danger because of suicidal thoughts or actions, call 911 immediately. Suicide is an emergency that requires help by trained medical professionals and should always be treated seriously.

Nationwide suicide hotlines, 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) and 1-800-273-TALK (8255), have counselors available 24/7. The Southwest Behavioral Health Center also offers help for Southern Utah residents; call 800-574-6763 or 435-634-5600.

Other resources include Suicide.org, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the American Association of Suicidology. All provide comprehensive information and help on the issue of suicide, from prevention to treatment to coping with loss.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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