National Suicide Hotlines
Suicide hotline in the US 1-800-273-8255
Crisis text line. Text the word HELP to 741-741
Veteran’s Services 1-800-273-8255, press 1
Veteran’s Text line send HELP to 838-255
Virginia Crisis Intervention
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority 804-819-4100
It’s heartbreaking another talented musician has died by suicide. Chester Bennington was lead singer in the band Linkin Park. He had admitted to suffering from depression and addiction. What’s more, he had suffered childhood trauma as a result of being sexually abused for years.
In 2008 – Bennington revealed to a magazine that a “friend a few years older than him” began molesting him around the age of seven. The sexual assaults finally came to an end when he turned thirteen.
The trauma, depression, drug abuse and addiction are all risk factors for suicide.
Another risk factor for suicide is sensationalization of a suicide which I have sadly witnessed with each death of someone famous. I personally refuse to share any article that uses the phrase “commit suicide” or has the method of death in the headline or sensationalizes the death in any way. It’s a trigger for vulnerable individuals. I have seen proof in my own statistics.
Since the public learned of Bennington’s suicide, visitation to specific pages on my website has more than doubled–pages that are solely on this website to index in Google so people searching these dire phrases land on them.
When I wrote them, it was my hope that those hurting and searching would land on those pages. Maybe I could thwart a suicide attempt.
One study of people who attempted suicide found that 48% thought of suicide for fewer than 10 minutes before making the suicide attempt. Time is key to getting someone thinking of suicide to think of life. That irrational state of mind does come to an end. I try to interrupt that using marketing techniques I have learned.
Today I didn’t expect to see those pages get the most visitation ever at the statistically lowest time of year for suicide attempts and completed suicides. It took my breath away.
I have to remind myself that those pages have worked to save lives.
My heart is with the Bennington family–his wife and six kids and all the fans suffering from the loss. And to those fighting for their lives as a result of being triggered by sensationalized reporting, keep fighting. I see that many of you spent some time here today.
National Suicide Hotlines
- Suicide hotline in the US 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis text line. Text the word HELP to 741-741
- Veteran’s Services 1-800-273-8255, press 1
- Veteran’s Text line send HELP to 838-255
Virginia Suicide Crisis Hotlines
RBHA (Richmond Behavioral Health Authority) Virginia Crisis Intervention 804-819-4100
Chesterfield County Crisis Line
804-748-6356
Henrico Residents
(804) 727-8484
Charles City/New Kent residents
(877) 264-8484
TTY: (804) 727-8496
Hanover County Adults
Mental Health &/or Drug/Alcohol Crisis Services
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone in Hanover County.
Call: 804-365-4200
Hanover County Youth
Mental Health or Drug/Alcohol Crisis Services
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone in Hanover County
Call 804-365-4200
💙 words escape me right now.
I know. I struggled last night. Tried to remember that some people stayed 10 minutes. And if the ideation lasts 20 minutes, I’ve given someone pause
Chester’s death is so heartbreaking. I have loved their music for a long time but hadn’t kept up with it. I had not heard Heavy. Wow. I’m thankful for the uptick in hits to your pages, Anne Moss. I’m praying your words, and those of the Emotionally Naked community, will be a lifeline to those struggling in despair.
Me too Amy. For some reason the uptick right after his death was a shock
I was talking to my older daughter last night about those who commit suicide and it seems like it’s always the kind , compassionate sensitive ones. Even more sad due to this world desperately needs them to help balance out the harder hearted mean people. The irony…….
Exactly. I wrote a post called you are contemplating suicide which addresses that very topic