September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Guidance Care Center of the Florida Keys is encouraging residents to recognize warning signs, reach out to people who may be struggling and remember that mental health is something everyone has.
Maureen Dunleavy, regional senior vice president for Guidance Care Center, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the organization.
Suicide prevention is not limited to people who have previously experienced mental health challenges.
“We all have mental health,” Dunleavy said. “It’s just like our physical health.”
Guidance Care Center has provided behavioral health services in the Florida Keys for 53 years. The organization has locations in Key West, Marathon and Key Largo and provides services ranging from school-based prevention programs to assistance for people living with mental illness. Its mobile crisis response team is available around the clock.
Dunleavy said the organization serves people regardless of their ability to pay.
During Suicide Prevention Month, it is particularly important to reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health and to encourage people to talk openly when they are struggling.
One of the most significant warning signs can be isolation and withdrawal.
“I like to say, being in my head without adult supervision is dangerous,” Dunleavy said.
She also warned that alcohol can increase the danger for someone already experiencing a crisis because it can impair judgment. Access to a firearm can further increase the potential for a crisis to become fatal.
Dunleavy said friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers should not be afraid to ask someone directly whether they are thinking about suicide.
“There’s this myth around if I say the words, then I’m going to give people ideas about wanting to do that,” Dunleavy said. “And that is not really the case.”
Instead, she said, asking directly can give someone an opportunity to acknowledge that they are struggling and accept help.
If someone says they are in crisis, Dunleavy advises against trying to solve the problem alone or attempting to talk the person out of suicidal thoughts.
“Say, ‘This is really serious. I want to keep you safe. Let’s call together. Let’s go in. Let’s talk to someone to see how we can help with that situation,’” she said.
Empathy and connection are more important than judgment.
“Connection” is the one word she wants people to remember during Suicide Prevention Month.
Connection can take many forms, including checking on a neighbor, meeting someone for coffee, attending a community or spiritual event, going to a 12-step meeting or simply sending a text message.
“Connection is helpful for the person who’s struggling, and then it’s helpful for us as individuals as well because it’s that strong protective factor,” Dunleavy said.
Dunleavy said residents of the Florida Keys also face unique stressors that can contribute to mental health challenges. Housing instability, natural disasters and other disruptions can affect people’s ability to cope.
University of Miami research identified being a renter is a significant suicide risk factor in the Keys, citing the stress associated with housing stability and instability.
Studies following Hurricane Irma and the COVID-19 pandemic found that natural disasters and pandemics can exacerbate mental health symptoms, as well.
The Monroe County School District also recently received recognition for its suicide prevention efforts. After a three-year process, every school in the district completed mandatory suicide prevention training, and the district developed additional community partnerships and coordinated efforts to address mental health.
Dunleavy said Guidance Care Center has a strong partnership with the school district, including having its staff working within schools and providing access to the mobile crisis response team when crises arise during the school day.
The Monroe County School District became the first school district in Florida to be designated a suicide prevention certified district by the Florida Department of Education.
The mobile crisis response team at the Guidance Care Center, which has operated since 2019, serves people of all ages throughout the Florida Keys.
The service can be accessed by anyone — including a person experiencing a crisis, a parent, teacher, friend or neighbor — and is available 24 hours a day.
Residents can also call 988, the nationwide Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, at any time.
For the Guidance Care Center mobile crisis response team, residents can call 305-434-7660 and press 8 to reach a live person. Dunleavy said callers do not have to wait through the entire automated script.
The service is free to residents and visitors in the Florida Keys.
Dunleavy said people should not wait until a crisis becomes severe before reaching out.
“Don’t be afraid to reach out for help, even to just learn about what’s available,” she said.
More information about Guidance Care Center and its services is available at guidancecarecenter.org.