September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so The Bengal made its way into Gravely Hall to sit down with Sheryl Yee, Client Care Manager, in Counseling and Testing Services. She offered insight and resources for suicide prevention.
Tell me a little bit about what it is that you do.
“I am the only full-time social worker on staff, so I help with crisis appointments, triaging, I carry a small caseload of students for counseling, but I am also the liaison with the hospital if a student has been hospitalized and wants to come in for services.”
I know that unfortunately in rural areas, suicide rates are higher. What would you say about this in terms of the campus community?
“Yes, we are in what is called the suicide belt, so in these rural areas like Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Utah, Idaho, and New Mexico—are at much higher risk because there are fewer resources to reach out to. There is typically a culture of ‘you should handle it all on your own,’ and y’know, ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps,’ so people don’t reach out for help as readily because of that culture.”
Do you have any tips to deconstruct that mindset?
“When I meet with students, I will applaud them for having the courage to come in, to begin with. I do ask if people are from Idaho. I’m from Phoenix, and I thought we were the wild west, and I come here, and there’s just definitely that culture of not seeking help and applauding that. We’re all here at school to learn things, right? That is help-seeking in its own way, and this is just another form of that. No one has all the answers. The best thing with suicide prevention is people learning that struggle is real. Really, I just want people to ask each other, ‘man, I’ve heard you’re really struggling. Have you ever had thoughts of ending your life? Have you ever thought you just wish you wouldn’t wake up in the morning?’ Because there’s help for that. Having that be a normal part of the conversation, where we can just look to each other and ask that question—as scary as it is to people—to ask that question and connect them with help.
“Most people don’t necessarily want to be dead, they just want whatever the struggle is right now to be over. Most people who have had attempts come back and say I don’t really want to do that again, I just want to get through this moment. And getting through that moment is key. We are here Monday to Friday 8 to 5, but there are lots of resources.”
What are the top 3 resources for people to get help?
“Pocatello, for a little over a year now, has had the Pocatello Crisis Team. It’s through the Idaho Health and Welfare Human Development. They will come out and see someone Monday through Friday 8 to 5, what the state allows for them here, but in other parts of the state they have longer hours. Calling that mobile crisis team—even after hours, there’s always a counselor that’s available. That’s a human that’s in the area where you are, who can understand some of what’s going on in your area and what resources are there.
“There is the crisis center that’s here in town, where people can get free support 24-7. If people are struggling with themselves or others or struggling with substance abuse, it’s a place where people can go and just be safe. They have a bed, they have food. There’s no cost and there’s no need for insurance or anything.
“Here on campus, if someone is struggling and calls in crisis, we will meet with them in person or over Zoom. We are here Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. If someone calls in, there’s someone on call. During that time frame, you can always reach help.”
Is there anything you would like to say to the campus community?
“I love the students, the staff and the faculty here. I also want to say that we offer a Survivors of Suicide Loss Group, and myself and Rick Pongratz lead that. It’s the second Thursday of every month. Because suicide is prevalent in this area, people are affected by it. It’s not just the person who has the attempt. They say at least seven people have been affected for every attempt that’s out there. If people are needing support, we do a workshop each semester, but we also have that support group for survivors of suicide loss. If they’ve lost a friend or family member to suicide, we want to provide support.”
