Any time that I hear that someone has committed suicide it is very upsetting to me, but when I heard that the head of mental health services at the University of Pennsylvania died by suicide, I felt very sad. The reason I feel so strongly about this is because if someone who is trained how to help people who are suicidal and is aware of resources available to them, if they are feeling suicidal and do not ask for help, how can we expect someone without that training or support to reach out if they are feeling suicidal???
This news is evidence that not even trained mental health professionals are immune to mental health issues and a good reminder to please do not hesitate to ask for help if you or someone you know is having thoughts to harm themselves. As mental health professionals, we need to do more to reduce the stigma of mental illness and to make people aware of the resources available to help them.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources