Meinders Community Library

The following information is from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Toolkit. This toolkit includes key messages, images, and resources.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Although mental health and suicide prevention is important to address year-round, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices and share that there is hope, help is available, and healing is possible.

This year’s theme is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to start the conversation. The aim of the theme is to raise awareness about the importance of changing the narrative surrounding mental health and suicide. Changing the narrative on how we perceive and talk about mental health and suicide requires systemic change. To make change happen, we will need to shift our culture from silence and stigma, to encouragement, understanding, and support.

Week 2: Let’s Talk About Mental Health With Loved Ones. Talking to a loved one about mental health is one of the best ways to get the help we need. Often our first points of contact when we are struggling are our friends, family, or colleagues. If someone you know is struggling emotionally or having a hard time, talking with them can be the difference in getting them the help they need. Talking to a loved one about mental health and suicide can be an uncomfortable and an uncertain topic, but it is also one of the best ways to prevent it. We can all take action to have these conversations with someone who may be suicidal by using the five action steps from #BeThe1To.

ASK. Asking openly and directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?” shows that you are willing to discuss suicide in a nonjudgmental and supportive manner. The other important part of this step is to listen to their reasons for their emotional pain, as well as reasons that they want to continue to live. Help them focus on their reasons for living, not on the reasons that you think that they should stay alive.

BE THERE. Be physically present for someone, speak with them on the phone when you can, or show up in any other way that demonstrates support for the person at risk. If you are unwilling or unable to commit to being there, talk with them to develop ideas on who else might be able to help and how they might support.

HELP KEEP THEM SAFE. After the “Ask” step, and you’ve determined suicide is indeed being talked about, it is important to find out a few things to establish immediate safety. The first question will be to ensure that they have not done something already to hurt themselves. Secondly, you will want to ask them if they have a plan and a way to die by suicide. Knowing the answers to each of these questions can tell us about the imminence and severity of danger the person is in.

HELP THEM CONNECT. One way to start helping them find ways to connect is to work with them to develop a Safety Plan. A safety plan is designed to guide people through a crisis, with a goal to keep them safe and get them help. Connected people are significantly less likely to feel depressed, suicidal, and overwhelmed, while also feeling more hopeful. You can download a Safety Plan, or you can pick one up from Meinders Library on our resource table.

FOLLOW UP. Make sure to follow-up with them to see how they’re doing. Leave a message, send a text, or give them a call. This is a great time to see if there is anything else that you can do to support them. This type of contact can continue to increase their feelings of connectedness and potentially reduce their risk of suicide.

• Check on your friends and family. Talking with them is one of the best things that we can do to get them through difficult times. However, it can sometimes feel uncomfortable, daunting, or just plain awkward. The Roadmap to Friends Supporting Friends gives ideas on what support can look like, how to offer support, and where to begin.

• Having conversations around mental health and suicide can sometimes be uncomfortable, but it can also make a big difference. Not sure where to start? Check out these trainings offered in Minnesota. Suicide Prevention Trainings

• If someone you know is struggling emotionally or having a hard time, you matter and can be the difference in getting them the help that they need. The 988 Lifeline has resources on what to look for and how you can help them.

• It is important to have a conversation about safety if you or someone you know are having or have had suicidal thoughts in the past. Everyone can put together a safety plan to help identify when we might need additional support. Create your own safety plan and encourage your family and friends to do the same. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has a great video called Michelle’s Safety Plan to show how to develop a safety plan.

Be sure to stop by the library and browse our selection of suicide and mental health materials. From books to promotional items, magnets, and stickers, our display will be up throughout the month of September. I am one of four wonderful librarians, so please don’t be afraid to ask questions or reach out. Even if I don’t know you, I am always open for a conversation.

Keep following along during the month of September for more information and resources. Week three will cover talking about mental health in our community.

Until next time, stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~

The following information is from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Toolkit. This toolkit includes key messages, images, and resources.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Although mental health and suicide prevention is important to address year-round, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices and share that there is hope, help is available, and healing is possible.

This year’s theme is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to start the conversation. The aim of the theme is to raise awareness about the importance of changing the narrative surrounding mental health and suicide. Changing the narrative on how we perceive and talk about mental health and suicide requires systemic change. To make change happen, we will need to shift our culture from silence and stigma, to encouragement, understanding, and support.

Week 1: Let’s Change How We Talk About Mental Health. What we say to ourselves and others about mental health matters. We all have mental health and it is as essential to a person’s life, just as physical health. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and shapes how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.

It can be hard for people, families, organizations, and communities to talk about mental health. Not talking about mental health and suicide can increase the risk of people that are struggling, and potentially decrease the likelihood that someone will seek help when they need it most.

Too often, public messaging conveys negative narratives about mental health and suicide. These negative narratives stigmatize mental health and suicide, which can contribute to feelings of uncertainty, shame, and self-loathing that prevent someone from seeking help or putting them at greater risk for harm. Instead, a narrative of hope and resilience can influence how people think, feel and act and lets us know that there is hope, there is help, and suicide is preventable. What we say to ourselves and others can encourage hope, celebrate life, and help ourselves and others understand that mental illnesses are treatable.

Ideas for action to start the conversation with yourself about your mental health:

• Know that you are never alone. Do you have crisis numbers available or a plan if you do feel like you get into a state of emotional crisis? 988 resource reminders and safety plan sheets are available year-round at Meinders Community Library.

• Identify what you do and do not have control over. As hard as it may be, life is a balance of holding on and letting go.

• Manage your own life and take responsibility for your actions. Recognize that you cannot control every event, but you can always choose how you respond. Put your energy into what you can fix right now instead of ruminating about the past.

• Seek help and support from family, friends, or health care professionals during times of need. Therapy and/or medications are sometimes needed to control your symptoms and better understand your illness.

• Seek help during times of struggle with loneliness or isolation by reaching out to a family member, friend, counselor, health care provider, or the 988 Lifeline by calling or texting 9-8-8 or using the 988 Online Chat feature.

• Sometimes it is hard to know when you need to connect with someone to support you with your mental health. If you want to learn more about when you may need to get support, check out My Mental Health from the National Institute of Mental Health.

• Starting the conversation around mental health doesn’t have to be heavy. Seize the Awkward has tips and opening lines to help make starting the conversation easier.

• We are less alone when we turn to each other. The Mental Health Coalition has tips for fostering connection and how to find people to connect with through technology.

Be sure to stop by the library and browse our selection of suicide and mental health materials. From books to promotional items, magnets, and stickers, our display will be up throughout the month of September. I am one of four wonderful librarians, so please don’t be afraid to ask questions or reach out. Even if I don’t know you, I am always open for a conversation.

Keep following along during the month of September for more information and resources. Week two will cover talking about mental health with loved ones using the five action steps from #BeThe1To.

Until next time, stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~

Summer Safety

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, please consult a professional. I will include a list of resources at the bottom.

It’s no secret that July typically brings the hottest weather of the year.  With elevated temperatures, you also face the increased risk of heat related illness, such as heatstroke and heat exhaustion.  Implementing immediate measures, like frequent water breaks, is essential to protect against heat stress.  And if you take SSRIs for a mental health condition, the risk of heat related illness increases.

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are the most widely prescribed class of antidepressant medications, primarily used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD. They work by increasing the availability of serotonin—a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and emotion—in the brain.  SSRIs block the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin by the presynaptic nerve cells. By preventing the brain from immediately reabsorbing it, more serotonin remains in the synaptic space to bind with receptors, which helps improve mood and communication between brain cells.  Some commonly prescribed SSRIs include Fluoxetine (Prozac), Sertraline (Zoloft), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Citalopram (Celexa), Paroxetine (Paxil), and Fluvoxamine (Luvox).

SSRIs can impair your body’s temperature regulation and disrupt thirst perception, significantly increasing your risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heat stroke. They can also cause photosensitivity, making you more prone to sunburn.  Here are some ways you can stay safe this summer, while keeping your mind happy and healthy:

• Manage your medication:  Keep SSRIs in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, as high temperatures can degrade their effectiveness. 
• Protect your skin: Because some SSRIs cause photosensitivity, apply an SPF 30+ sunscreen daily and wear protective, lightweight clothing.
• Avoid peak sun: Limit outdoor activities and exposure between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM when UV rays and temperatures are highest.
• Preempt dehydration: Drink fluids regularly before you feel thirsty.  Carry water with you, and take breaks in the shade or indoors where it is cooler.
• Watch for warning signs: Monitor for rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, headache, or excessive/absent sweating.  Seek medical attention immediately if you feel you are experiencing a dangerous, heat related emergency.

In addition to SSRIs, individuals taking antipsychotics are also at risk. Antipsychotics, which are used to treat conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, can also interfere with the body’s natural cooling system, reducing awareness of heat or thirst, and increase the risk of overheating. This means people taking them may find it harder to stay cool during a heatwave.

So, as the temperatures rise, so must our ability to recognize the symptoms of a heat crisis. Watch for warning signs, stay hydrated, and limit outdoor sun exposure. Be sure to speak to your physician or healthcare professional if you notice severe or persistent sweating, are feeling faint or confused, or are unusually hot, which could be signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Until next time, stay happy, healthy, cool, and safe! ~Sally~

Psychology Today — Antidepressants and Heat Stroke Risk: What You Need to Know

Healthline — Can Antidepressants Cause Heat Intolerance?

AARP — 8 Types of Medications That Can Make It Harder to Handle the Heat

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Heat Health