News Story - Idaho State Journal

jhancock@journalnet.com

POCATELLO -- More than 50 people attended a suicide forum at City Hall on Tuesday.

The National Suicide Prevention Week Forum, hosted by the Cedar Health Center, included a community panel discussion and the personal story of a suicide survivor.

Sheila McHugh, whose sister committed suicide more than 30 years ago, pointed out early in her talk that a suicide survivor is not a person who attempted the act and failed.

"Suicide is not a nice business. Suicide is not a kind business," said McHugh. "Suicide survivors are the friends and family of the person who committed suicide."

She then told the story of her sister Karen, who as a young woman showed all the signs that are now considered classic symptoms of depression and despair often associated with suicide.

McHugh said she and her family still struggle with the emotions surrounding Karen's suicide. At the time of Karen's death, they were left with only questions.

"We understood it was suicide, but it was difficult to accept," she said. "Always the question why? Could we have done something to help?"

Kathy Werner-Leap, director of Cedar Health Center, said the main goal of Tuesday's forum was get the community organized to aid in reducing the suicide rate in Southeast Idaho.

"Idaho has the sixth highest rate of suicide in the nation. Southeast Idaho has one of the highest rates in the state," Werner-Leap said. "

While Cedar Health Center offers mental health care services and the National Alliance on Mental Illness is also a Southeast Idaho fixture, Werner-Leap is hoping to bring a successful suicide prevention group into the area as well.

"We would really like to see a branch of (the Suicide Prevention Action Network) here," she said. "There are chapters throughout the state, but ironically, none here where the suicide rate is so high."

SPAN's mission is to provide suicide prevention leadership through a collaborative effort of existing agencies and community members. The group works to develop and distribute a suicide prevention tool kit. SPAN has an office in Idaho Falls.

"One of our goals is to make SPAN a reality right here in Pocatello," Werner-Leap said.

By Jimmy Hancock

This document was originally published online on Wednesday, September 10, 2008

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Piper wrote on Sep 10, 2008 11:12 PM:

" Great way to phrase caption on this picture. I didn't think her speech was that bad.... "

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