Suicide: Despite stigma, survivors not alone

When Kathy Ward's husband committed suicide in 2005 after a history of substance abuse and depression, she got mad. Then she vowed to educate people not to be judgmental.

"Nobody knows what it is like to love a person who has mental health issues unless they've walked in their shoes," she said Saturday.

Ward's comments came during a gathering of supporters of National Suicide Survivors Day, part of a local effort to help those who have lost loved ones to cope with going forward.

Primarily, Ward said, she wants people to know that the stigma of mental illness or depression needs to be neutralized. Also, she said people who are at-risk should not be afraid or reluctant to seek help.

"It's nothing to be ashamed about," she said.

Suicide occurs in South Carolina at a rate more frequent than the general public might think. Recent state statistics available from 2005 list 527 suicides occurring that year, for an average of 1.4 per day. The overwhelming majority -- nearly 80 percent -- of the victims were male.

Charleston and Berkeley counties were also in the top occurrence levels in the state that year, with a rate of 16.6 and 13.2 suicides being reported, respectively, per 100,000 residents.

Ward, a nurse from Charleston, said her initial anger was at the circumstances surrounding her husband's death after 22 years of marriage that included bouts of substance abuse.

"I hated the disease but loved the person," she said.

Ward said the health care industry should be more receptive to supporting long-term mental care, and without the risk of coverage being cut off when extended treatment is required.

Charlotte Anderson, vice president of the 211 telephone help services at Trident United Way and a certified suicidologist, said gatherings of suicide survivor groups such as the Saturday event provide a benefit at a time when feelings of grief are common.

Group discussions show newcomers and others who are involved that "they are not alone," she said, and that progress will come over time.

Ward said that for anyone in an at-risk position or who is the survivor of a family suicide, the best first step is to seek help.

"People need to know they are not alone and that healing is possible," she said.