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Wednesdc An illness wi between ftani Story by Janet Gibson Most of the people who committed suicide in Richland County last year did it in "a most violent way. "They use handguns or shotguns and usually shoot themselves in the temple or mouth," said Assistant Coroner Jim Anasti. Nineteen suicidcs have been reported in tho PAIml fnr IflOA ooi/J IVft vnv. vvumy iv/i IJOU, lie: ocuU. lVlUil WCIC caused by firearms, and all were male. THE MAJORITY of victims, he estimated, are between 19 and 40 years old. He added financial difficulties, problems in iciaiiuiioiups ui a tuiiiuuirtiiuii ui win ate responsible for most of the suicides. Sonny Young, an investigator for the Columbia Police Department, agreed problems in a marriage or relationship top the list of suicide causes. "A lot of people can't handle an emotional it :j Ul Cdivup, IUUIlgbcllU. Suicide : t * # A- # statistics (From Ari Kiev, MJ>? author of The Courage To Live) Approximately ^ 5,000 people bet I ween we ages w him* 24 wui Km g;l|fe|istt?selves thSs ji The atifcide rates for teen-agers .:>y<ages 14 to 19) doubled betwtm im J | Spp^WTO &jpd tftfc rate t^flh^fS I gJ fa their 20?, ||i?X 8g ^JWS^ tSSroWBMMii mk mm* ipgAmong is the i|!tl|auae of death nftel ac|$i^t$::aft<S:' \^N V" ^ ? n^x .. sjig? '. ' :AsX \ XS V i SUICIDES IN RICHLAND COUNTY s:.j&swsyj*# v- .> ' ?' ? 5RP! 4i vV ' ? v;,.; 1 * mm 1 i c mm. % & im 25 tm I960 14 in mi in __1 " _ I Carolina 6 Wednesday, I 10:00 *r -V- "T" T 'T- " "T ^ T" *r * I Russell Jf (in case of rain the Ru I Representatives from ovi ment agencies, and gr; available to talk with you L th a fine line ty, insanity He commented that suicide "doesn't touch one brand of people." People of all races and economic backgrounds take their own lives, he said. IT'S EASY for a person to be totally normal one day and commit suicide the npvf hp COlfl "Cnioirln in on 1 W.V, .iv. UIIIV4. UU1C1UV, IO CW1 llllicad CtUU there's a very thin line between sanity and insanity." Young cited specific suicide examples he's encountered since joining the department. One of the most tragic cases, he said, involved a boy about 14 in the Eau Claire area. He said the boy wanted to obtain a nnft ?itvin *171 1 1 1 LI ? t^ai I-IIIUC JVJW. VVUCII IIC uppi'UiieilUU Ills mother with the idea, she refused by saying he probably couldn't keep up his grades if he worked. The boy went to his bedroom and hung himself. Young recalled another suicide ? a Fort Jackson soldier who jumped off the Hotel Jefferson (now Jefferson Square) because of a broken love relationship. Psychiatrist David Lashley said he's been "extremely lucky" in his three years of counseling USC students. Lashley said very few patients have mentioned suicide to him. Another USC staff member, Ronald Maris, said suicide statistics are misleading. Maris is head of the sociology department and president of The American Association of Suicidology, an organization of professionals and concerned persons whose purpose is to reduce suicide. Maris said suicide rates have remained constant since the beginning of the century and suicides among young people are "very low." Since suicide rates are already low, he said it doesn't take many more deaths to show a 100 percent increase. Maris said he is mainly concerned with "risk-taking behavior" among young people, which he defined as anything that could cause injury or death. An example, he said, is driving fast or under the influence. "You don't have to kill yourself to commit suicide," he added. He said taking too many drugs, "partying too much," or becoming nrAfYlicpliAiic o rn nf hot- fnrmc i Mt*Ar\r\inrf [SA VIlllOVUVUO U1V l/HIVi IV/1 uio ui U1 out." IN COLUMBIA, crisis lines are available for persons with emotional traumas and for those persons contemplating suicide. Contact Help, a 24-hour service, has about areer Fair 1 "-> i -m ? ? J ~>epterrwer 1 7 - 2:30 !'*?????*??*** use Patio issell House Ballroom) er 70 companies, governaduftte schools will be abou t career options. . .:v ] - mfc B . '>:; : ] ' m '.. mm "For every suicide you have about eight attempts. Ronald Maris, (JSC sociologist 200 volunteers who help persons through telephone counseling, according to Freddie, a Contact Help volunteer. Freddie, who wished to keep his last name anonymous, said callers seeking help may also remain anonymous. A VOLUNTEER for 12 years at crisis centers in Pennsylvania, Freddie has worked for Contact Help for about a year and-a-half. Counselors must complete 10 weeks of training, he said. Three-hour sessions are held once a week for interested persons. Freddie estimated three out of 10 callers threaten suicide. More people threaten to kill themselves on rainy and cold days and during the full moon, he said. ATTENTION MARI EARN We are looking for married cot plete a questionaire concerning t marital relationship, and viewpoir less than one hour to complete. I can attend- a session arrangemer participate. Couples will be paid questionaires. Questions: call Dr. 777-4639. To Participate Come to Rm 410 B runuwmy i im?; Mon., Sept. 15 ? 7:00-8:00 p.m. Tues., Sept. 16 ?8:30-10:30 a.m. Wed., Sept. 17 ? 8:30-10:30 a.m. 12:30-2:00 p.m. 7:00-8:00 p.m. Thurs., Sept. 18 ? 8:30-10:00 a.m. 1 00-4:00 p.m. Fri., Sept. 19 ? 8:30-10:30 a.m. 1:00-3:00 p.m. B ' "TO?1 A I i . SBhe J | (Photo by Barry Newmani IKT ^ 1 l l lvexi weeK: rape prevention \ i As part of Rape Awareness Week, a presentation on rape education, prevention, treatment and follow up services will be offered from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 23 in Russell House 326 A. After a slide presentation by representatives of "People Against Sexual Assault," a panel of campus officials will answer questions, offer assistance and provide information about campus and community resources. | Next week, "Wednesday's" will deal with the problem of rape, how it can happen to you and how to j prevent it. RIED COUPLES $10 iples who are willing to com hoir f i m i I v / r\C /-m-- i /- i n icrrtMf .iitii i ci i ii 11 y ui wiiyiii, V.UIICIII it of some moral issues. Takes f only one member of couple its can be made for both to $10 for completion of both Keith Davis, project director, ovnuioll Artu Time nnvinm 4>Iia mi 11 wvu r\ ay sw< ft/Ml 9ll%f tl IC i I I i I