Michelle McNeil, MSN, RN, EMP-P, has seen a lot in her 20 years in healthcare. Currently the nursing manager of two separate emergency room departments at Parkview Whitley and Parkview Warsaw, Michelle started her professional journey in healthcare in the back of an ambulance as a certified EMT right out of high school. Little did she know then that her career would lead to her current role, leading two teams of more than 20 frontline emergency room nurses in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb across the region, Michelle and other healthcare professionals are seeing another, perhaps less obvious, cause for potential concern: rates of mental health crises and suicide attempts also seem to be rising.
“We have definitely seen an increase in mental health issues and increase in the age span with suicidal ideation,” Michelle said. “It's no longer the young to middle age males that are in this category. It’s kids as young as five and adults as old as 90 who are having the suicidal ideation.”
The COVID-19 pandemic is leveling the playing field and causing increased stress, anxiety and isolation across all ages, genders, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. All of this adds up to more patients seeking care for their physical as well as mental health, and the first stop for many of them is the emergency room.
“There has been a gradual increase in mental health complaints every year, but more so since the pandemic,” Michelle said. “Patients who are seeking mental health treatment are even having to remain in the emergency department longer than normal due to mental health facilities being at full capacity.”
Although the situation feels especially urgent right now, suicide awareness and prevention aren’t new to Michelle. Two years ago, she attended the Zero Suicide Academy and helped spearhead a campaign to increase suicide awareness in Parkview Whitley Hospital employees. The initiative helped arm coworkers with facts surrounding suicide and gave them the skills to broach the subject with patients, friends and even family members who may be at risk. She feels these communication skills are more important now than ever and hopes more people will become aware of the issue to prevent the loss so many have families have endured.
Surprising statistics
- Suicide rates have increased more than 30% in half of states since 1999
- 54% of people who died by suicide had NOno known mental health condition
- Up to 45% of people who die by suicide visit their primary care physician in the month prior
Warning signs
Here are just some of the signs that someone could be contemplating suicide:
- Being isolated
- Increased substance abuse
- Looking for a way to access lethal means (firearms, pills)
- Increased anger or rage
- Extreme mood swings
- Expressing hopelessness
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Talking or posting about wanting to die
Tough conversations
Asking someone about suicide and whether they are considering taking their life does not increase their risk of dying by suicide. In fact, asking the hard questions can decrease the chance that someone will follow through with suicide. Asking if they are thinking about hurting themselves is a good way to start an open, honest dialogue with someone and can show that you care about them and their feelings.
Getting help
If you suspect someone is considering suicide, first and foremost, keep them safe. Offer to go with them to get help. Helping someone connect with a trusted healthcare professional is the best way to insure they will get the help that they need.
Michelle has experienced the power of asking the hard questions firsthand and shareds how this experience continues to have an impact on her own approach to patients, friends and family today:
“Years ago, my best friend, another medical professional, had a solid plan on how they were going to commit suicide and if the right questions wouldn’t have been asked, and if they would not have received the appropriate help, they would not be here today. Every time I think about what I could have lost and how it would have impacted their family’s life, I want to do more.”
If you or someone you know is considering ending their life by suicide, help is one phone call away. Please urge them to call Parkview Behavioral Health Institute’s HelpLine at 260-471-9440 or 800-284-8439 to talk with someone immediately.
