Sometimes the first sign that someone is struggling is a change in their routine or behavior — a person stops showing up to a regular gathering, begins withdrawing from friends, neglects medications or starts saying there is no point in going on.
Recognizing those changes and knowing what to do next was the focus of Tuesday’s Lunch and Learn at the Iola Public Library, hosted by Allen County Regional Hospital and featuring Mary Sumner, LMSW, a therapist with Senior Life Solutions at Anderson County Hospital.
Sumner, who has worked with Senior Life Solutions for three and a half years, spoke about suicide prevention, warning signs, how to approach someone who may be considering suicide and the resources available when a situation becomes a crisis.
She was joined by Kristen Springston, LPN, program director of Saint Luke’s Senior Life Solutions at Anderson County Hospital, and Traci Plumlee, marketing director for Saint Luke’s Health System.
The discussion began with a recognition that suicide is not confined to a particular age group, background or circumstance.
“Suicide is something that touches many lives, either directly or indirectly,” Sumner said. “And it really doesn’t have any boundaries.” Sumner shared statistics showing the scope of suicidal thoughts in the United States. In 2024, there were 14.3 million people who self-reported having serious thoughts of suicide.
Suicidal warning signs are usually not expressed directly. Sumner said people should trust their instincts when they notice something is different. “If you’re noticing something’s off, trust that something is likely off,” she said.
RECOGNIZING a warning sign is only the first step. The more difficult question can be what to say. Sumner encouraged people not to avoid the subject. Instead, she recommended asking directly, but calmly, whether they are thinking about suicide.
That direct question, she said, does not put the idea into someone’s head. It opens the door for an honest conversation.
The person asking the question also should remember that they are not there to solve the problem, but to listen, provide support and connect the person with appropriate help.
“If you walk away with anything today, the thing I want you to remember is 988,” Sumner said.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides a way to connect with trained crisis counselors. Sumner said people should not hesitate to use it when they are unsure how to respond to someone experiencing suicidal thoughts.
For an immediate emergency, 911 may be necessary, particularly when someone has a plan, has access to the means to carry it out and intends to act. “If in doubt, we call 911,” Sumner said.
She encouraged people to tell emergency responders the situation involves a mental health crisis.
PART OF responding effectively is keeping one’s own emotions under control. Sumner explained that a crisis can activate the body’s fight-or-flight response, making it difficult for people to think clearly. The brain’s amygdala, which plays a role in the body’s response to perceived danger, can contribute to that reaction.
That can happen to both the person experiencing the crisis and the person trying to help.
