Menninger’s Community Luncheon raises more than $72,000 for suicide prevention treatment and research
HOUSTON, TX—(May 14, 2009)
The Menninger Clinic’s fourth annual Community Luncheon drew more than 200 attendees and raised more than $72,000 for The Clinic’s new, potentially landmark suicide prevention treatment and research project—one that will use for the first time in an inpatient setting a suicide treatment protocol that has been effective in outpatient settings.
The need for research on suicide treatment and prevention is much larger than annual suicide statistics may indicate, said author and mental health advocate Terry Wise, JD, the luncheon’s keynote speaker. For every 32,500 annual deaths by suicide there are 25 attempts, according to the American Association of Suicidology.
“Many people who die by suicide don’t want to end their lives—they want to end their pain,” Wise said.
She shared lessons learned from her experience recovering from depression and a near-fatal suicide attempt following the death of her husband from ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. During her treatment, Wise learned that her attempt was not the consequence of her husband’s death but the buildup of emotional stress resulting from four years of full-time care giving and early life events that included child abuse and domestic violence.
What gave her the will to live was finding hope again with the help of a compassionate therapist. Understanding the consequences of depression and the process of recovery from depression helped Wise learn to manage recurring depression and live an emotionally healthy life. “A true lifeline for me was learning how to talk about my feelings,” she said.
Wise said Menninger is leading suicide prevention research with its new project. “Many lives will be saved because of this luncheon today, from the new insights you have gained and the support you have given to this research.”
Menninger’s suicide treatment and prevention research project will measure how well the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) protocol prevents inpatients from attempting suicide. Tom Ellis, PsyD, Menninger’s assistant director of psychology, will serve as the study’s principal investigator. Dr. Ellis is also an associate professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine.
“Rarely do people come together to talk about suicide,” said Pam Greene, PhD, RN, The Menninger Clinic’s chief nursing officer. “But Terry’s presence here is a living example of how powerful treatment is in the prevention of suicide.”
Wise admitted she doesn’t know if the attempt could have been prevented. However, she cited these factors that might have made a difference:
- Child abuse prevention.
- More education about suicide for teachers (Terry’s first thoughts and signs of suicidality came at age 10).
- More education for parents and other adults about the risk factors and warning signs of suicide. Her parents or their close friends weren’t aware of her signs.
- Stopping her consumption of alcohol and painkillers, which exacerbated her suicidal thoughts.
- Reducing the stigma of suicide, which silences individuals from talking about their pain or the extent of their hopelessness.
- Accepting and seeking more help as a caregiver.
- Learning better coping skills to deal with grief and bereavement.
About The Menninger Clinic
The Menninger Clinic is a nonprofit international specialty psychiatric center, providing treatment, research and education. Founded in 1925 in Kansas, Menninger relocated to Houston in 2003 and is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. Since 1991, Menninger has been named among the leading psychiatric hospitals in U.S.News & World Report’s annual ranking of America’s Best Hospitals. Menninger is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
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