Good suicide prevention plan

The sheer numbers reveal that Utah has a very high rate of suicide. In fact, Utah leads the nation in suicides among men aged 15 to 24. But statistics cannot quantify the grief and bewilderment of those left to cope with the suicide of a relative or friend.

It is hoped that the newly announced Utah Suicide Prevention Plan will help others avoid the devastating loss of a family member or friend to suicide. Some of the underlying goals of the plan include broad support for suicide-prevention programs, promoting awareness and reducing the stigma of mental illness.

The ambitious five-year plan, which encompasses 10 goals intended to prevent more Utahns from taking their own lives, seeks to change policies and attitudes. As Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff explains, "Follow the blueprint. It's all there."

Although advocates, government agencies and bereaved families have each attempted over time to address their respective pieces of the issue, the strength of this plan is its collaborative approach. Each recognizes the scope of this problem and the need to work cooperatively to help reduce Utah's suicide rate, which is among the top 10 in the nation.

For too long, there has been a stigma associated with mental illness and suicide. While society is increasingly comfortable discussing physical illness, some people continue to tiptoe around the issue of mental illness. This reticence can discourage people from seeking the treatments that can help them manage these diseases and save their lives.

At a press conference to announce the plan, Utah's first lady Mary Kaye Huntsman aptly noted that there should be no differentiation between how society should treat a child undergoing cancer treatment and a child in psychiatric care. "Either way, you have a child who is very sick," she said. "We need to put our arms around those in need. Cancer can happen to anyone. So can mental illness. Both hurt. Both cause anxiety and fear."

We hope this new plan will bring about such an understanding of the issues surrounding suicide and help families and individuals find resources that can reduce the state's suicide rate.