When someone dies by suicide, it usually comes after that person showed some sign of a mental problem. Some signs are more notable than others.
Local prevention advocates are raising awareness about risk factors for suicide.
About 2 ½ years ago, Augusta native Winton Connell said some really disturbing things. So, out of concern, the woman he was dating called Connell’s best friend, Harrison Walker.
“He was telling her that his life needed to end and all sorts of stuff and just going more into depth about how he wants to take his life and he’s not happy,” said Walker.
So, Walker tried to call Connell. He couldn’t reach him. Neither could any of Connell’s other friends. Eventually, his phone went straight to voice mail. Walker says that was the night Connell took his own life.
“I didn’t see anything coming,” said Walker. “I don’t believe anybody else did.”
Walker doesn’t know for sure. But, he says Connell’s struggle with his dad’s death might have been a factor. In fact, Connell died 1 year after his dad. Dorian Lamis is a pre-doctoral intern at Emory University’s School of Medicine and has studied suicide for the past 8 years.
“Research is consistently showing that interpersonal loss is a very strong risk factor for suicide,” said Lamis.
Lamis is in residency assessing patients’ mental health at Grady Health System. He says Connell telling his girlfriend about his life needed to end was a classic risk factor.
“Around 50 to 75% of people who die by suicide have given some kind of warning of their intentions to a friend or family member,” said Lamis.
Lamis says people who die by suicide often have “observable signs” of depression, low mood, pessimism and hopelessness. If you see those signs in someone you know or if that person is thinking about suicide, Lamis says you should tell them suicide is a final solution to a temporary problem.
“Basically give them hope that they’re going to get over this issue that they’re experiencing,” said Lamis.
Each person is different. Some don’t show any signs or they’re hard to see like Kim DePriest’s son, Zachary, who died by suicide.
“He never let anybody know he was in distress of any type,” said DePriest.
She says two years ago, he made plans to visit her in Dawsonville.
“It was his girlfriend calling me and of course my first though is they’re going to tell when they’ll be down to visit,” said DePriest. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the phone call in received.”
Kim DePriest says her son didn’t leave a note, showed no signs and says he was happy about his beginning his military career. Dorian Lamis says there aren’t warnings in about 25% of cases.
At first, the uncertainty made Kim DePriest question her move to Georgia from Michigan, where Zachary was in college.
“What if I had been there,” said DePriest. “What if I hadn’t moved away? You can what if forever. But, it’s not going to do any good. So, I decided just to move forward and help others.”
Kim DePriest joined a local survivor outreach program. She’s been active in local events raising awareness for suicide prevention. She and others participated in National Suicide Prevention Week recently.
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