Barb Nelson is Chairman of the Greater Kansas Association of America Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
She is passionate about suicide prevention because two of her teenage sons, Justin and Jason, committed suicide six months apart.
Barb decided she would learn everything she can about warning signs and spread the word to others to help prevent more tragedies and heartbreak.
Nelson explained that severe depression is the leading cause of suicide.
Certain warning signs to look for:
- Feeling irritable or angry more than usual
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Increase use of drugs or alcohol
- Talking about killing yourself
- Giving away your personal treasures
If you see someone exhibiting those signs, Nelson said you should directly ask the person if they are thinking of harming themselves.
"Approach them with care and concern and ask the question directly because they will know that you do care about them and want to help," explained Nelson.
If the person confirms that they have thought about taking their own life, then you should stay with that person until help arrives.
Nelson is available to speak at schools and community groups.
She is also working on a proposal to mandate suicide prevention training in all public schools in Kansas and Missouri.
Additional Resources|
The National Suicide Prevention Crisis Line is 1-800-273-8255.
You can get more information about warning signs and reducing the risk of suicide by visiting The Kansas Suicide Prevention Resource Center.
Nelson's organization,The Greater Kansas Association of the American Foundation for Suicide Preventionhas more resources for tips on how to help someone dealing with a suicide and help families of people who took their own lives.
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Cynthia Newsome can be reached at cynthia.newsome@kshb.com.
