Dramatic Rescue Off Shawnee Mission Parkway (October 8, 2009)
SHAWNEE, KAN. -
A dramatic rescue off Shawnee Mission Parkway Thursday happened when a teenager tried to commit suicide. Some say suicide's stigma prevents people from talking about it and that can be dangerous.
Thursday morning, the teen was up on the Lind Road Bridge over Shawnee Mission Parkway when a Shawnee Police Officer saw him and could tell he was upset.
"Just all of a sudden he bolted for the side of the bridge," said Capt. Bill Hisle.
Shawnee Police said the officer had just seconds to react.
"John Narbeski was able to grab onto this person's pant leg as he went over the railing and grab the coat," said Capt. Hisle. "He literally dove and caught this kid in midair."
Police had stopped traffic under the bridge and pulled a Deffenbaugh trash truck underneath the teen to help him to the ground safely.
"People who attempt suicide, they feel helpless like no one is there. But, there are people. There are people who care about them," said Jen Boyden with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Boyden said suicide rates are higher than most people know and are on the rise.
"For every two people who die by homicide, three people die by suicide," said Boyden.
She said 90 percent of people who commit suicide have a diagnosable mental illness. The stigma around both mental illness and suicide means people are reluctant to talk about it. But, talking could prevent tragedy, said Boyden.
"People around them can recognize and intervene and just by asking are you suicidal? Are you thinking about about suicide?" said Boyden.
Sheila Osborn runs a suicide survivors support group through NAMI. Her nephew killed himself 11 years ago. She said it was a shock. She said everyone should educate themselves to recognize the warning signs of suicide because you never know when you'll need it.
"And, we need to more freely talk about suicide so people feel comfortable saying 'I may be in trouble because I'm having these thoughts,'" said Osborn.
For more information on suicide prevention see NAMI's web site (Kansas City Chapter) and if you think someone you know if thinking about suicide call the hotline 1-800-SUICIDE.
More Resources:
SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP http://www.sass-mokan.com/
SUICIDE PREVENTION http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/index.html
TEEN SUICIDE -- FACTS FOR FAMILIES http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Teen+Suicide§ion=Facts+for+Families
Thursday morning, the teen was up on the Lind Road Bridge over Shawnee Mission Parkway when a Shawnee Police Officer saw him and could tell he was upset.
"Just all of a sudden he bolted for the side of the bridge," said Capt. Bill Hisle.
Shawnee Police said the officer had just seconds to react.
"John Narbeski was able to grab onto this person's pant leg as he went over the railing and grab the coat," said Capt. Hisle. "He literally dove and caught this kid in midair."
Police had stopped traffic under the bridge and pulled a Deffenbaugh trash truck underneath the teen to help him to the ground safely.
"People who attempt suicide, they feel helpless like no one is there. But, there are people. There are people who care about them," said Jen Boyden with NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Boyden said suicide rates are higher than most people know and are on the rise.
"For every two people who die by homicide, three people die by suicide," said Boyden.
She said 90 percent of people who commit suicide have a diagnosable mental illness. The stigma around both mental illness and suicide means people are reluctant to talk about it. But, talking could prevent tragedy, said Boyden.
"People around them can recognize and intervene and just by asking are you suicidal? Are you thinking about about suicide?" said Boyden.
Sheila Osborn runs a suicide survivors support group through NAMI. Her nephew killed himself 11 years ago. She said it was a shock. She said everyone should educate themselves to recognize the warning signs of suicide because you never know when you'll need it.
"And, we need to more freely talk about suicide so people feel comfortable saying 'I may be in trouble because I'm having these thoughts,'" said Osborn.
For more information on suicide prevention see NAMI's web site (Kansas City Chapter) and if you think someone you know if thinking about suicide call the hotline 1-800-SUICIDE.
More Resources:
SUICIDE SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP http://www.sass-mokan.com/
SUICIDE PREVENTION http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/suicide/index.html
TEEN SUICIDE -- FACTS FOR FAMILIES http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Teen+Suicide§ion=Facts+for+Families
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