Mental Health Awareness: Suicide

At the end of last year, a series of high profile local suicides elevated the issue of depression and bi-polar disorder in our metro.

In October, John McClure, the gregarious young executive chef and owner of Starkers Restaurant took his own life.

He struggled privately for years. Starting this week on The Local Show, we begin a four-part series from KCPT producer Sandy Woodson that tracks the issues surrounding suicide awareness and depression, the impact on survivors and the importance of early intervention.

When we were putting this series together, we were cautioned about the language we used in setting up these video pieces. We received this memo from the experts we worked with: “Please if you can stay away from saying someone “committed suicide” there is recognition that “commit” is stigmatizing. We think of “commit a crime” and suicide is not a crime. It is an act to end a life of unbearable pain. More sensitive language: “the person died by suicide” or “the person died of suicide.” We’ll remember this memo in all of our coverage from now on. You can see part two of our four part series on suicide and depression on The Local Show on February 9.

A reminder that the national suicide prevention line is 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

View the segment now.