From personal experiences, a profound sadness over seeing suicide destroy people and their families, and a tangible need for advocacy and awareness in the Brazos Valley, Doug Vance, Ph.D., decided in June of 2018 that he wanted to found an organization for suicide prevention. Therefore, the Brazos Valley Coalition on Suicide Prevention was born.
The conversation surrounding suicide can start by acknowledging that it is on the rise, Vance says. Each day, 117 Americans die by suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“Statistics show that deaths by suicide exceed those by homicide, war, and natural disasters combined, so why aren’t we talking about it?” asks Vance. “BVCOSP is here to change that — we want to take the mask off to start talking about the silent killer that is suicide.”
Vance launched the coalition by reaching out to people he knew in the community, friends, and people with personal testimonies who he knew could contribute value to the new organization.
One of the people Vance reached out to is Alicia Steinley, whose personal testimony Vance first heard on KBTX. Steinley, president of Active Minds at Texas A&M University and one of the first members of BVCOSP, has a powerful story to match her passion for spreading awareness about mental illness.
Steinley was 15 years old when her dad took his own life. In the years following, she suffered with depression and suicidal ideations.
“Although I was severely depressed, I knew I couldn’t put my brother and mom through the same thing my dad did,” Steinley says. “When I found National Alliance on Mental Illness and Active Minds, my advocacy work became my outlet for all my pain. Instead of choosing sadness every day, I decided to take small steps to improve others’ lives. I find strength in making a difference in the community through speaking about suicide prevention.”
The most important action to take within your own circle of family, friends, and loved ones is to create an environment where mental illness is de-stigmatized and talking about it is healthy and accepted, says Steinley.
“Just having someone to talk to can make a huge impact on people, because their emotions don’t have to just fester inside their minds,” Steinley says.
In that light, Steinley recommends finding a good counselor to those struggling with mental illness or thoughts of suicide. There are resources within the community that can connect people with counselors to fit their personal and financial situations, she says.
“You can often recognize symptoms in people who are having suicidal thoughts — don’t just ignore those,” says Vance. “Ask people how they are. Help them get involved in something. Sometimes they just need a push.”
Symptoms named by Vance include depression, severe stress, expressions of hopelessness and feeling like a burden, and social isolation.
“The conversations and actions that seem scary are the ones that need to happen, because they can save lives,” says Steinley.
Membership in the coalition entails attending monthly meetings, as well as championing advocacy efforts through an annual conference, public presentations and awareness events, strategic partnerships, and personal testimonials. BVCOSP aims to speak about suicide prevention at businesses, civic organizations, churches, schools, and more.
“BVCOSP is a passionate, inclusive group of people who want to make a difference and say ‘no more’ to suicide,” says Vance. “What’s special about our group is not only do we want to be here to support the community, but with many of our members impacted personally by suicide, we want to be here for each other.”
For more information on the Brazos Valley Coalition on Suicide Prevention, email bvcosp@gmail.com, visit them on Facebook, or call (979) 450-1752.
