September is National Suicide Awareness Month and resources can be harder to find in a rural community like Sampson, but both Dr. Marilyn Benton with Academic Abundance and the Monday Himdez Suicide Prevention and Awareness Event highlighted the importance of awareness and connection for those who are struggling — and even when resources seem fewer, their agencies are worth reaching out to when someone is in need.
Benton and her late husband, Dr.Kenneth Benton, started their nonprofit Academic Abundance in 2010, initially as a resource to prevent teen pregnancy, but Dr. Benton explained in a phone interview that the “focus of the group has changed,” ultimately still embodying the mission that “knowledge is power, and the more knowledge and understanding we have the more abundant our lives — hence the name Academic Abundance.”
The former educator emphasized how important healthy decision-making is for student success, and noted that is why Academic Abundance provides material to coincide with ninth-grade health and P.E. in Sampson County Schools to not only teach students about goal setting, but also to provide public health information that students might otherwise be unaware.
She emphasized the importance of providing awareness to students that allows them to make good decisions for themselves, and when asked if she thought that awareness was helpful in suicide prevention, she responded “I pray so.”
The former educator went on to say that school personnel have some training, and when they notice students aren’t “acting right,” that she hopes they will pay attention and check on those students.
She also hopes the awareness Academic Abundance teaches to students will help them to learn to check on their peers as well.
“If they want the help, there is somebody in that building that will help them,” the former educator stressed about her belief in the school staff and the support they provide to young people beyond education.
“If you see something, say something applies to all parts of our lives,” Dr. Benton stressed, adding “our parents need to be as educated as our young people.” She noted that parents often see sides of students that teachers may not get to see, making it essential for them to have that same awareness at home.
Awareness, not only of oneself but those around you, along with safe connections were what Dr. Benton summarized as the most important components of suicide prevention.
At the Himdez Suicide Prevention Event Monday evening, the same sentiments were echoed.
Yadira Hernandez founded Himdez after losing her son, Isaias Asis Hernandez, at age 16. When she spoke to the crowd at Royal Lane, she stressed how full of life her son had been, and that she didn’t know the depths of what he was going through. She shared that they had cried together, but then she thought “he’ll talk to me when he’s ready.”
She urged the parents in attendance to be attentive, and stressed, “it’s OK to check your kids phones.”
“You’re not alone. You matter. I’m here if you want to talk,” the mother stressed to everyone in attendance, sharing that she named the organization “Himdez” because when her son was little he would say “I’m not a Hernandez, cause I’m not a girl. I’m a Himnandez,” which she then shortened to Himdez.
At the event there were food trucks, vendors, and informational booths, with the colors teal and purple on signs, in balloon designs, and on wristbands that many people were handing out — all having a simililar sentiment “your story isn’t over.”
A Fayetteville therapist, Krislyn Bullard, who specializes in working with children, manned one booth and was providing resources to parents. When asked what she might tell someone who was nervous to reach out she said “whatever you’re thinking, you’re not alone. Someone is thinking the same thing, and there are people willing to help you.”
Mary Brewer and her daughter, Omara Ortiz, were selling raffle tickets, and they both reflected on knowing Isaias. Brewer shared how she has asked herself many times since his death, “why didn’t I see it?”
Her daughter added that “you can’t always see it,” referencing Robin Williams and his comedy, and urging the community to “be more open and let people know there is help.”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration describes the warning signs to look out for in both adults and youth as:
Adult Warning Signs include: talking about or making plans for suicde, acting anxious, agitated, or behaving recklessly, talking about being a burden to others, talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain, increasing the use of alcohol or drugs, talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live, sleeping too little or too much, withdrawing or feeling isolated, showing rage or talking about seeking revenge, displaying extreme mood swings, and chronic illness or serious health conditions.
Youth Warning Signs: expressing hopelessness about the future, displaying severe or overwhelming emotional pain or distress, increased physical symptoms —such as fatigue, headaches, and stomachaches —commonly associated with emotional distress, changing or withdrawling from social connections or situations, changes in sleep (increased or decreased), anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context, recent increased agitation or irritability.
In Sampson County, options for mental health care include calling 988, which is available 24/7 and is confidential, calling the NC Peer Warmline at 1-855-733-7762 which is available 24/7, confidential, and can be utilized at times when not in immediate crisis, Easterseals Community Crisis Center which is open weekdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and calling 866-241-7245 for 24/7 mobile crisis support.
Easterseals website states “everyone’s first line of crisis response should be their primary treatment provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911, and/or go to an emergency room hospital that is closest to you. Our services include crisis stabilization, safety assessment, crisis prevention planning, coordination of care and follow up,”