The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 17, 1980, Page Page 7, Image 9
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