HJAR Jul/Aug 2019

56 JUL / AUG 2019 I  Healthcare Journal of ARKANSAS Wake-up Call InApril of 2015, the Governor and General Assembly proclaimed suicide as “the leading cause of injury death inArkansas, and an ur- gent and serious public health and welfare problem in the state.”At the time, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in Arkansas, and over twice as many people died by sui- cide annually than from homicide. In 2018, the American Foundation for Suicide Pre- vention ranked suicide as the tenth leading cause of death amongArkansans and ranked Arkansas 14th in the nation. Although there are many initiatives in place to prevent sui- cide, there are factors that place Arkansans at risk of suicide. State of Stigma We often talk openly about diabetes, heart disease, or other conditions. However, far too often, mental health issues are either not dis- cussed or ignored. While healthcare experts and leaders continue to call for an end to stigma, this issue is pervasive and serves as a formidable barrier to treatment. It places Arkansans at risk. Reframing the Conversation About Mental Health In order to create a better social world column Mental Health reframing the conversation It would be irresponsible of me to write about mental health and not provide you with resources. Some of this content may cause uncomfortable feelings and thoughts. If so, please contact a mental health professional or the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.