September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month and the behavioral health team at Saline Memorial Health System has been hosting activities and events all month to help raise awareness about suicide in central Arkansas and ways to prevent it from happening. The month-long campaign culminates with a Luminary Lighting Event, Thursday evening in what has become an annual tradition to remember those who’ve died by suicide.
- What: Luminary Lighting Drive-thru Event to honor those who’ve died by Suicide and support their family and friends.
- When: Begins at Sunset Thursday, September 30 and will continue for 2 hours or until the last car has driven along the lighted path.
- Where: Saline Memorial Hospital, 1 Medical Park Drive, Benton, AR 72015, Medical Office Parking Lot
“It was such a meaningful event last year – as my team prepared the luminaries, we spoke each name out loud to remember the person. And as it grew dark, friends, families and hospital employees came to honor them, too. Some drove their cars along the path; but others parked and walked; searching for and reading the names. Many families shared stories about their loved one as the night became filled with memories and hope. It was really very touching” said Lisa Sheppard, MSN, RN, Program Director for Saline’s Behavioral Health Services.
According to Sheppard, efforts this year centered on the theme “Light The Way” and have focused on education and how people, especially healthcare workers, can be a light to those who are struggling. The names of those being honored will again be on the bags that will line the sidewalk in front of the hospital. We are still encouraging family and friends to send us names through the hospital’s Facebook page, email or by calling the behavioral health unit at 501-776-6643.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in Arkansas, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, a part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A new study by the State Health Access Data Assistance Center shows the suicide rate in Arkansas rose by 41% between 2000 and 2018, surpassing the national increase of 37% for the same years. Locally, “Arkansans in general have poorer health, have more stressors because of economics and the COVID period has added onto those,” said Dr. Joe Thompson, President and CEO of Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, who described the statistics as concerning especially with an ongoing pandemic. said. Recently, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement coupled that data with a second study that looked at suicidal ideation. The proportion of people who thought about taking their lives rose from 3% to over 16% during the COVID epidemic, according to Thompson. “Those two things together, I think, are a warning call for us to watch out for individuals that are having problems with the stresses that COVID brings on,” he said.
Sheppard wants the community to know the Saline Memorial supports them and can provide help for those in crisis and support for those assisting others through a crisis. “We want to invite everyone to join us for the 2nd annual Luminary Lighting Evening as we bring Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month to a close tomorrow, September 30 at sunset” Sheppard said.
Individuals needing immediate help can call the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255. They can also text ‘HOME’ to 741741 to the Crisis Text Line.
Those who would like to honor a loved one lost to suicide can visit
www.salinememorial.org/suicideprevention. There is a link on the event page on Facebook. They only ask for the name of the person being honored and the name of the person submitting the name.
Saline Memorial Behavioral Health Services are managed by Psychiatric Medical Care (PMC), a leading behavioral healthcare management company. PMC manages inpatient behavioral health units, intensive outpatient programs, and telehealth services in more than 25 states. For more information, visit www.psychmc.com/inpatient