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accessHealthNews.net
October 2021
Volume 8 | Issue No. 50
"
You know you're not okay, right?
You're going to have to talk to
somebody."
These words, uttered by a concerned
coworker, were the turning point
for April Scott to seek help for
her suicidal thoughts. Scott's first
pregnancy was a breeze, but her
second brought relentless doubt,
fear for her ability as a mother, and
severely worsened mental health
symptoms. She knew she was in
danger when she began obsessively
thinking about the handgun in her
purse, but providers missed several
opportunities to intervene.
Out of fear of being labeled an unfit
mother and being separated from
her children, she refused to speak up
about what she was experiencing. It
wasn't until her coworker confronted
her directly that she realized she
needed to be honest with her loved
ones. Even then, access to treatment
and other resources took months
to receive, prompting a further
discussion about the responsibility of
providers in suicide prevention.
In honor of Suicide Prevention
Awareness Month, observed
annually each September, the
Missouri Behavioral Health Council
and Missouri Department of Mental
Health hosted a webinar series
highlighting risks associated with
suicide. The series began with
"New Mothers in Crisis: Research
Findings and a Mother's Personal
Story," featuring Rebecca Ray, MA,
PLPC, who worked on the Suicide
Prevention Lifeline for several years
and now offers various counseling
services. Through StressSight she helps
patients become aware of a variety
of influences on their stress levels.
Ray laid the foundation with new
research surrounding suicidality in
new mothers before Scott shared the
story of her own struggle with mental
health as a mother of two.
Data surrounding suicide is difficult to
measure due to the lives lost, but also
because of the stigma associated
with mental health and suicidal
thoughts or ideation. People who
are struggling or do not understand
what they are experiencing may not
be transparent with others. When
substance use is present, their death
may not be accepted as a suicide
by loved ones or their community.
While new research presented in
this series aims to highlight early
opportunities to intervene and
prevent suicide, survivors and their
stories offer even more valuable
guidance.
SUICIDE AND ACCESS TO LETHAL
MEANS
Following the birth of her first son,
Scott experienced the normal baby
blues, a period of overwhelming
emotions that commonly occurs
throughout pregnancy and
childbirth. Her transition from the
hospital to home was seamless, she
had a large support system, and she
felt confident as a mom.
As her son grew older, Scott and
her husband decided to add
to their family, but experienced
two devastating back-to-back
miscarriages. "For both myself and
as a family unit, it was difficult to
navigate," she said. After seeing a
specialist and receiving treatment for
a uterine polyp, she discovered she
was pregnant again.
During her pregnancy with her
daughter was the first time Scott
considered suicide. "I could just feel
the dread and anxiety, I had this
overwhelming feeling," she said.
The thought first occurred during an
anxiety attack in the middle of the
night while her husband was gone.
"In that moment in time, all I could
think of was the gun in my purse next
to my bed in my room. That was the
only thing I could think of at three
in the morning was to immediately
move it, lock myself in the bedroom,
and calm myself back down."
"I have to cross a bridge every day to get to work – I thought
about driving off that every day. My only thought was that I
was pregnant – I didn't care about me, I just cared about her
and my husband and my son."
