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accessHealthNews.net
December 2021
Volume 8 | Issue No. 52
This article was originally published in October 2021.
"
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 mother
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.
"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."
