While it’s great Wyoming is taking steps in the right direction to help with suicide prevention and offering mental health resources, it’s also clear our state still has a mental health crisis, and more work needs to be done.
I’m excited about the nation-wide switch to 988 for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This number is definitely easy to remember, and a better option in a moment of crisis than having to look up a full 10-digit phone number (or having to save it to your phone or memorize it beforehand).
I was also excited to hear Wyoming is expanding service in the state so calls to the Lifeline will be answered in Wyoming 24/7. This is great progress since two years ago we were the only state that didn’t even have an in-state call center for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
However, despite the progress, Wyoming is still lagging when it comes to mental health resources, and we still seem to be on the path to continue leading the nation with the highest suicide rate.
Of course, no one knows exactly what all contributes to high suicide rates anywhere, and no one can pinpoint an exact cause for Wyoming’s high numbers.
Some people might half-jokingly blame the long, cold, dreary winters. And they might actually have a point, since Seasonal Affective Disorder is real, and lack of sunlight can do weird things to us. Another unexpected factor could be living at high altitude, since some studies have looked at links between places with higher altitudes and higher suicide rates. Another factor for some people can be feelings of isolation from living in spread-out places or smaller towns. Some have also pointed out access to firearms can affect suicide rates.
While there are lots of factors at play, I think another factor that may not cause suicides but certainly doesn’t help is Wyoming’s rugged individualism. It could be argued this mentality is needed to survive here, but I would argue it might actually be killing us faster.
It’s true, you have to be tough to live in Wyoming. But over the years, Wyoming’s definition of “tough” has often come to include not showing emotion and not admitting to struggling, because these things are seen as “weaknesses.” Wyomingites also tend to be proud and stubborn and not generally fond of asking for someone else’s help.
These attitudes have all contributed to stigmas surrounding mental health and made people uncomfortable admitting when they’re struggling or getting the help they need.
One of the first things that needs to change is this concept of emotions, including negative emotions, being a “weakness.” I truly believe that allowing yourself to experience your emotions actually shows incredible strength. And it takes extra strength and courage to face negative emotions and mental health disorders and to keep fighting and choosing to live every day.
Also, I find it incredibly ironic that Wyomingites are some of the quickest to offer help to others, but some of the last to seek help for themselves. We live by treating others the way we would want to be treated, but I think we also need to learn to treat ourselves the way we would treat others, and that means asking for help when we need it so we can receive it.
As someone who knows and loves people who struggle with suicidal ideations, and someone who struggles with my own mental health, this topic hits close to home for me. I’m thankful our state is starting to make progress, but I want us to keep doing better.
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