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Dear Editor:
When it comes to social isolation and its negative mental health effects, the power of community is our secret weapon. Being part of a community can increase the chances of survival for isolated individuals. So as Lady Gaga put it at the Grammys- "If you see someone hurting, don't look away." People in our community are dying by suicide, and we can change this by developing a culture of shared responsibility. It should be everyone's responsibility to reach out to someone who is struggling and isolated and help them find what they need. Don't look away, engage with them. We need to educate ourselves about issues related to mental health so that we can better know what to say to someone who we can see is struggling. We need to be okay with that discomfort that often occurs when we talk with people about emotions that we may not have experienced. We need to be willing to approach someone who is hurting alone and invite them back into the community.
There are other options for someone in pain, but that person may be in too much pain to see them. That's where the community comes in. Sometimes just asking someone if they are okay can be enough of a reminder that there are people that are willing to listen. Sometimes they may need more, like a point in the right direction of where to get help. Iowa County's website has a Mental Health Resource Guide that can be found under the "community" section, it's a great place to start. Sometimes being included in a community activity can help individuals feel less isolated - register someone you're concerned about to be a part of your team for the March 24th Dodgeball Tournament in Mineral Point. Including someone in a team event can make them feel like they matter, and it gets them actively involved in the community and engaging with others. These are just a few examples, for more information and resources visit http://www.suicide-iowacountywi.org/.
If we want things to get better, we can no longer avert our eyes when someone is visibly upset in public places. We can no longer avoid certain people because the things they talk about make them a "buzzkill." "How are you?" and "Will you join me?" are now our secret weapons, because as a community, we have the power to change things.
Hannah Puralewski, Dodgeville