Story Archives of 'Suicide'

Four years ago, Eric Bebergal tried to kill himself by wrapping wire around his neck and attaching it to a closet pole. His wife found him passed out on the floor. He was admitted to the emergency room at Mass General Hospital, and was released the next day. A few weeks later, Eric attempted suicide again, and this time succeeded. He was 46 years old.

Peter Bebergal wrote a touching article in the Boston Globe last weekend about his brother’s suicide. And he asks if a test being developed by Harvard researchers, the Suicide Implicit Association Test, could have revealed his brother’s desire to try to kill himself again. Peter joins Word of Mouth from Boston with more on the test and its critics.

(Photo by Gabriela Camerotti)

In advance of National Survivors of Suicide Day this coming Saturday, we are going to take a look at how those people left behind when somebody dies by suicide cope with their grief. We'll also see what the social perceptions of suicide are today and what is being done here in New Hampshire to better help educate people on this sensitive topic. Laura's guests are Catherine Greenleaf, Author of “Healing the Hurt Spirit”, longtime non-denominational spiritual director and member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Catherine has lost loved ones to suicide in the past. Also, Ken Norton, Director of the Frameworks Youth Suicide Prevention Project at NAMI NH - The National Alliance On Mental Illness and Dr. Mary Brunette, Psychiatrist and Medical Director for the NH Dept. of Health and Human Services Bureau of Behavioral Health. She also works for the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center. We'll also hear from Michael Whitman. He lost his son to suicide in 1994 at the age of 23. Whitman is a member of the New Hampshire Youth Suicide Prevention Assembly and gives talks on the healing power of music.

Five years ago, writer and mountaineer Guy Waterman committed suicide at the summit of Mount Lafayette. His widow Laura Waterman has written a book, Losing the Garden, that tells the story of their relationship, Guy's long battle with depression, and his decision to end his life. This day's program is Part II of a conversation between Laura Waterman and John Walters.

Every year, 5,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 die by suicide. It's the third leading cause of death for this age group and the sixth leading cause for 5-14 years olds. Today marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the NH Youth Suicide Prevention Assembly (YSPA). We'll look at the causes of teen suicide and what's being done in the Granite State schools, homes and hangouts to prevent teens from dying by suicide in the future. Laura's guests are Ken Norton, Special Projects Director for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill in New Hampshire who's involved in developing a state plan for youth suicide prevention in the Granite State. Robert Racusin, A psychiatrist and associate professor of psychiatry for Dartmouth Medical School who also has worked as a school psychiatrist and Michael Whitman, a member of the New Hampshire Youth Suicide Prevention Association. Michael's son died by suicide in 1994 at the age of 23.

With National Survivors of Suicide Day this week, we'll take a look at how people grieve and try to cope with the loss of a loved one to suicide. Laura's guests are Mary Pat McMahon, Co-chair of the New England Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Chairman of the National Survivors Council and Chan Newton, a Chaplain and Bereavement coordinator at the Hospice chapter at the VA Hospital in Manchester. To find out more about the American Federation for Suicide Prevention's November 22nd Teleconference or to sign up for it's webcast. For information on complicated grief. To read a reprint of "Why Do People Kill Themselves?" by psychologist Edwin Schneidman.