Facing Suicide

(bright music) - This farm has been in our family four generations.

Farming, at least from my generation, was a lifestyle, and you had failed if you lost the farm.

- [Narrator] During the farm crisis of the 1980s, Dave Boettger's clinical depression and other factors led him to think seriously about taking his own life.

- I had looked around that morning and I said, "I'll never see this place again."

That was the low of my life.

And I just remember yelling to myself, I've gotta have some help, I've gotta have some help.

- [Narrator] According to prevention experts, knowing how to respond to a suicidal crisis can save lives.

They agree that people talking about suicide should not be left alone.

They should be escorted to a mental health professional or medical doctor immediately.

And friends and family can help ensure a safe environment by removing guns and obvious means of suicide from the house.

Very often experts agree the first step to getting someone help is to directly ask them if they are considering suicide.

- The myth regarding whether asking someone about suicide would leave for them to actually now you plant the seeds in the head, that's a myth, and we have to really address that.

If you don't ask, then you might miss the opportunity to intervene.

If you don't ask, then someone has to struggle with these issues on their own if you don't ask.

- [Narrator] Most people who think about suicide never try to take their own life, but for those who are in crisis, timing may be critical.

Research shows that the time between the impulse to die by suicide and the attempt itself can be very brief.

- Suicidal crisis is usually 1 to 10 minutes.

1 to 10 minutes.

It might cycle that you might think about this over time, but you're talking about the crisis, the idea that that thought will lead to behavior, it's usually 1 to 10 minutes.

- That's not a lot of time.

It's not enough time to get to a doctor.

It's not enough time to get to a hospital.

That means it's right now, it's you and me having a conversation, and we're gonna get through this 'til that impulsive feeling, that thought, that behavior that you wanna engage in, goes away.

Stay with them, don't leave them alone.

- [Narrator] Dave's wife, Nancy, was very worried, so she called neighbor and psychologist, Mike Rossman.

- Hello, this Mike Rossman.

And she said, "can you come right over and help me?"

- [Narrator] Mike hurried over to help.

- We found a way for him to get into the hospital immediately for evaluation, and he remained there for several days of treatment.

This morning, we're going to talk a little bit about your wellbeing.

- [Narrator] Mike specializes in farmer mental health, and he often speaks to families about the risk of suicide in their community.

While rural communities often don't have enough mental health practitioners, doctors and therapists like Mike can make a difference, and so can friends and family.

- I'm retired from farming now.

We have 16 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Yeah, it's a blessing.

- [Narrator] If you are considering suicide, or if you or someone you know is in emotional crisis, please call 988.

Call or text 988 for confidential free crisis support.