Suicide Prevention: Honorable endeavor or impossible mission?

Suicide is a serious subject and I haven't written about it seriously or intellectually for most of my writing career. I've written many poems expressing in various ways the emotions and thoughts of a suicidal person. I've also written some stories in an attempt to shed some light on the matter. However, today's submission isn't about being "suicidal" or dealing with mental illness. In this article, I'd like to discuss mental health in general and the Florida Mental Health Act of 1971 (also known as The Baker Act). I'd also like to share my personal experiences with suicide, crisis stabilization facilities, and my overall opinions about how people should handle this subject. What makes me an expert? Do I have a Doctorate degree in Psychology? No, I majored in English. But I've spent 25 years in and out of the "insane asylums" and on and off prescribed psyche medications. I've been to hospitals in Florida, New York, Illinois, Georgia, and New Jersey. I may not be qualified to prescribe medications, but after 25 years of experience as a diagnosed and treated patient, I feel quite confident in my expertise on the subject.

Why haven't I written seriously about this subject in all these years? It goes back to a high school memory. I was a young, cocky teenager in Drama class. I thought that whining about depression was just something that everybody did. I was not suicidal and I thought it was a joke at that time. For an assignment in Drama class we had to come up with a commercial. My commercial was meant to be funny, but I had touched on a subject that was too sensitive to be considered funny. I failed the assignment because I could not come up with something to replace my original idea. The commercial for "Suicide Assistance" was not considered appropriate or funny. I was 16 years old and not suicidal. When I began to feel the real feelings of suicidal ideation around the age of 29, I realized why my teachers in high school did not approve of my sense of humor at that time. Without having the experience of it, there was no way I could believe it or take it seriously. After the knowing, I was uncertain if I could approach the topic with the appropriate sensitivity. I believe I am ready now.

Suicide is real. If you google about suicide you will see many, many famous names documented in history as having died by suicide. Some people believe it is the action of a weak-minded and cowardly person. Others believe it is the action of a mentally-ill or deranged person. Some cultures believe it is an honorable act to dissolve any dishonor that the person may be guilty of. Our culture (especially since The Mental Health Act of 1971) seems to believe that suicide is no different than murder. That is logical, if you stop to think about it. Isn't it irrational to punish murderers or judge them according to the Ten Commandments, but say that suicide is acceptable or not the same thing? Whether the killer is taking someone else's life or taking his own, he is still guilty of killing. The Mental Health Act of 1971 (The Baker Act) has been in legislative effect for all these years because thus far we seem to agree that suicide is wrong, and we should do all we can to prevent it.

I had written a previous article detailing some differences in incarcerations. Attempted murder as a charge usually lands a person in jail. Attempted suicide usually lands a person in the "insane asylum". There are always exceptions to the rule, but that's generally how it goes. It's complicated and that is why I have also written about abortion and took the Pro Choice stand. Not because I want people to kill others or themselves, but because when it comes to murder or suicide I believe the judgements fall into the situational ethics category. Each case is different and it would not be fair or just to judge them all the same.

Focusing now on mental health treatment facilities or crisis stabilization units (CSU), I want to express my thoughts on what is good about it, what needs to be changed or improved, and how the community should be educated about it. Fifty years ago, most people were terrified about words like "crazy" or "insane" or "mentally ill" but over time society has come to a better understanding and acceptance. There is still a stigma and prejudice about people labelled or diagnosed, yet once they have been released from a CSU, they have the same rights as everybody else.

There have been many books written and movies depicting the challenges at the CSUs for both the medical staff and the patients. Some have shown the dark and disturbing side, while others have shown the positive light where the patients benefitted from help and a life was saved. I have lived through both situations having been to so many different hospitals in various states.

The biggest problems at the CSUs are similar to the problems found in jail. Keeping someone safe in a place where there are many edgy people put together. How do you keep the glass from breaking when you've put a Buffalo inside a crystal shoppe? Who's fault is it if the glass breaks or the Buffalo gets injured? Ironically, the guilt and blame questions will not resolve anything. Guilt and Blame are the causes, but not the solutions.

I do not think that straight jackets or bed strap downs are necessary in most cases. Sometimes the staff overreacts and causes more trauma. I do not think that forced medication is the answer in all cases either. Those determinations also have to be made on a case by case basis, but should be thought of as the most severe and unwanted resort. Having attempted suicide more than once, and having been incarcerated for suicidal ideation more than 20 times, I am a firm believer that stabilization and treatment are best achieved without stripping the dignity, rights, or freedom of the patient.

Instead of forced medication, a patient could receive counseling sessions, group therapy, music and art therapy, and self-reflection time. Instead of straight jackets or bed strap downs, a patient could be put in the padded cell for a "time out" to reconsider thoughts or calm down from overwhelming emotions. In jail, they do not have padded cells. If people get into a fight in jail, they are put in what I call the "icebox" which can be dangerous for a suicidal. In the icebox, I attempted suicide in three different ways that were available. However, at the CSU, I did not attempt suicide. Therefore based on my story and experience, I do advocate that the CSU is a better answer for the mentally ill or the suicidal.

The most difficult question regarding the topic of suicide (in my opinion) is this: Can it really be prevented? Obviously from the history of documented suicides, sometimes it can not be stopped. Sometimes I was "Baker Acted" when I wasn't suicidal. But there were more times that the Baker Act did save my life and prevent a suicide than not, therefore I still believe that the Baker Act is effective at saving lives and still belongs to the medical department.