GOSHEN — The numbers are staggering. At least 22 deaths have been attributed to suicide in the first 10 months of the year in Elkhart County. Two more have been ruled undetermined, but are likely suicide as well. The figures are on pace to nearly double the county's annual average, and some experts believe there's a single reason why.
Many of the cases involved financial trouble, and at least a quarter were directly linked to job loss of economic hardships. Experts say it's likely the economy also played a significant role in many more cases, as well.
It's an alarming trend now being mirrored in other communities across the nation, and local experts and activists say--if something doesn't change soon--the trail of pain and heartache that rises in the wake of
suicide will only grow.
'11 MONTHS OF HURT'
Donna VanderReyden knows that pain all too well. Pictures of her husband Rex, lost to suicide in December of 2008, still bring heartbreak.
"What it leaves behind is an ongoing snowball effect of pain and hurt and guilt. It's un-describable. There's no words for it. Any type of grief is difficult. But, when it's due to suicide, you add guilt. Everyone wants to know why. It's human nature to want to find blame," VanderReyden said.
Health problems and family issues had been festering in the VanderReyden's Goshen home for months, but Donna thinks there was one final straw that brought her world crashing down: money.
"[Finances] were a part of it. It was a part," VanderReyden trailed off. "And, letting a financial situation divide the family is sad."
New evidence suggests that division is now spreading at an alarming frequency.
GRIM STATISTICS
Elkhart County Coroner John White noticed the disturbing trend right away, but was asked to delve deeper into the numbers for an investigation by MSNBC in late June.
"It was in the first quarter of this year that we had four suicide notes that were left specifically stating that it was due to financial difficulties. That's why they had chosen to take their life," White told WSBT.
"The notes left by the deceased stated that, due to the economy, due to the fact that they lost their jobs, that they no longer had health care, no longer had means to take care of themselves or their families, that they had decided to take their own life," White continued.
Digging deeper, White found more cases. By early November, 22 suicides had been recorded. Two more deaths were attributed to "undetermined causes," but are likely suicides as well, White said.
That would tie the county's all time record for suicides in a single year, with two months of 2009 still to go.
White says, in many cases, he found common themes.
"Many of the notes said I don't know how to take care of my family, [or] I don't have any money, I can't find a job. No one is even talking about hiring, and my family would be better off without me," White said.
He came to a grim conclusion.
"We do have a definite problem in Elkhart County," he said.
They're not alone.
A GROWING PROBLEM
According to statistics compiled by Indiana University-South Bend Psychology Professor Dr. John McIntosh, it's very likely suicide rates are on the rise across the nation.
The latest current federal data on suicides is only updated through 2006, but anecdotal evidence suggests the economy is playing a role, said McIntosh, a consultant for and member of the American Association of Suicidology, whose doctoral dissertation focused on the study of suicide.
Just north of Detroit, mid-sized MaComb County, with approximately 850,000 residents has also hit hard by the recession. Unemployment there continues to top 17%, and at least 150 suicides or suicide attempts were recorded during the first 5 months of the year alone.
Since then, Sheriff Mark Hackel told Detroit radio station WOMC, deputies have responded to an average of 1-2 suicide calls per day.
Federal statistics for the last two years aren't available yet, but McIntosh thinks it's likely that heavy industrial states like Michigan and Indiana who have been devastated by the economic downtown are now well above the national average, perhaps even approaching states with traditionally high suicide rates like Alaska and Wyoming.
Even so, McIntosh isn't convinced the recession is solely to blame.
"Whenever we have a major set of issues or factors that affect a large number of people, you can expect that some of those people are likely to have more difficulties. And associated with that, some of them will also kill themselves," McIntosh said.
"But, while the economy may have played an important part at that moment, the individuals that I've seen in many of those case histories also had other issues going on. They'd had major losses of people. They'd had other kinds of factors in their lives that also led to them being more susceptible, and probably having fewer social supports," McIntosh continued.
According to the AAS, historically, only the Great Depression had any definitively linked effect on that national rate.
"Although U.S. suicide rates did increase slightly during the years of the Great Depression, reaching a peak rate of 17.4 per 100,000 in 1933, subsequent U.S. recessions have not been found to lead to increased national rates of suicide in the period of or immediately following each recession," the AAS wrote in a recent statement.
But, suicides have been measured as much as four times higher among the unemployed.
So, how can both be true at the same time?
"When the economy hits like it has, it occurs all at once for a large group of people. That's likely to look like the only thing, or the prominent thing. But, just because it was the last thing doesn't mean it was even the most important factor in the individual's decision. It may just have been the one that finally pushed them too far," said McIntosh.
But, White says there is also evidence that the length and severity of this recession is taking a deeper toll.
WARNING SIGNS
"If you don't have other skills, there's just no place to go," White said. "We're seeing that thought process. Usually, if suicide notes are left, they're either apologizing for something that's happened in their life or venting and accusing all the people they think caused them to do this."
"In normal situations, we have not seen people leave notes saying they were taking their life because of financial problems. There seems to be just a feeling of desperation. They've tried everything they know to do, and they simply can't find any other resources," White continued.
Those feelings, McIntosh says, are among the first warning signs, along with expressions of hopelessness and talk about suicide or death.
"Those are very important, and we should take those very seriously," he said. "They are the most obvious and direct warning signs. But, we also need to look for people who are feeling trapped or helpless personally. Those are the issues that often happen when there's an economic collapse, or the risk of foreclosure or those kinds of issues."
Other warning signs include:
•Increased substance (alcohol or drug) use
•Talk about a lack of reason for living or no sense of purpose in life
•Anxiety, agitation, inability to sleep or sleeping all the time
•Withdrawal from friends, family, and society
•Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
•Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities without thinking
•Dramatic mood changes
"There is also often a feeling of being burdensome, in particular, that seems to be pointed out in these cases more than it has in the past," said McIntosh.
CHOOSING LIFE
Feelings and emotions have bombarded Donna VanderReyden on a daily basis over the last 11 months. And, they are only intensifying as she and her family prepare to mark a difficult moment in grief.
"It was last December [that Rex died], and that anniversary is coming up quick. There's a lot of people that are hurting, and are going to be hurting," she said.
But, with hurt has come hope for others.
VanderReyden now devotes her time to prevention efforts, sending a crystal clear message to those who see suicide as a solution.
"You think--it will help my family financially, with insurance or whatever. [You might think] I'm a burden to my family, or I have failed them. You're doing more so by making this choice," she said.
Instead, VanderReyden wants to prove there are better options.
"Before people get into that tunnel vision, let's stop it back here, and help alleviate even going there. That's where the problem starts, and that's where it has to stop," she said.
"You have that intersection where it's dangerous. But, it's not until many lives are lost that they finally say, you know what? It's time for a stoplight. The time has passed for that stoplight," VanderReyden continued.
TAKING ACTION
It's one reason why she's doing more than just "hoping" things get better.
VanderReyden met last week with State Representative Tim Neese (R-Elkhart) to talk about funding for new options for those most at risk. Suggestions include expanded suicide prevention efforts in the unemployment benefit process and requiring companies to provide additional information on how to get help if you're feeling depressed, she said.
"It may be difficult, if not nearly impossible, it feels to the person who is suicidal, to see that there are options. But, that's where professional help can assist the person through that crisis and help them find those opportunities and alternative ways of dealing with those problems," agreed McIntosh.
That professional help is available from a variety of resources.
-The National Suicide Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by professionals at 1-800-273-TALK
-Locally, help is also available by calling United Way's 211 line
-In South Bend, you can also call Local Emergency Services at 574-234-0061, or toll free at 1-877-234-0062
-Madison Center of St. Joseph County and Oaklawn of Elkhart County can provide face-to-face assistance to individuals who are contemplating suicide
More information and resources about the warning signs of suicide and suicide prevention can also be found by contacting the Suicide Prevention Councils of St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties by clicking here or here.
After months tallying grim statistics, Coroner White shares VanderReyden's goals as this year's National Suicide Survivors Day approaches on November 21st. His hope now is that efforts from those like VanderReyden will keep those in desperation from solving a temporary problem with a permanent solution.
"There are some positive signs in the job market, and in the economy here in Elkhart County and around the nation," he said. "We're seeing things starting to look promising, and I would hope that and some action on our part from the community would help take away this problem."
