OGDEN – Before he was in school to become a social worker, Matthew Whiting had a couple of close friend who were having suicidal thoughts.

“At the time, I felt terrified and didn’t know what to do and worried afterwards about whether I had done the right thing,” he said.

Whiting, who will graduate with a master’s degree in social work this May, is currently a social work intern at Ogden Regional Medical Center’s Alcohol and Chemical Treatment Center. Next month, he will be giving a presentation on suicide prevention.

“One of my goals for this presentation is to help people so that they have hope when placed into a similar situation,” he said. “I want people to know there are effective ways of preventing suicide — effective things that anyone can do.”

According to the Utah Department of Health, from 2018-2020, the average number of deaths by suicide in Utah are about 657 per year. Suicide is the No. 1 cause of death among Utah youth ages 10-24 and the second leading cause of death for those ages 25-44. Suicide is the fifth leading cause of death for people ages 45-64. Overall, suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in Utah. The age group that has the highest death rate by suicide are those 35-44. Middle-aged men are more likely to die from suicide, due to using more lethal means, and middle-aged women more likely to attempt suicide.

According to the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition, LGBTQ youth in Utah report that they have seriously contemplated suicide at rates nearly three times higher than their heterosexual peers, placing them at greater risk of attempting suicide.

“Suicide is a complicated topic and there is almost never a single cause,” Whiting said. “In general, people tend to contemplate suicide when they feel hopeless, isolated and want an escape from agonizing pain.”

Whiting said mental illness such as depression and anxiety play a role, as well as drug and alcohol abuse, prejudice and discrimination, and social isolation.

“This event will involve education on facts about suicide, nationwide and here in Utah, warning signs and risk factors for suicide, resources for you or someone else experiencing suicidal thought, as well as teaching the audience step-by-step what to do if someone tells them they are suicidal or if they suspect someone is suicidal,” Whiting said. “If this presentation saves just one life, then it will have been a success.”

The presentation is open to the public and will be held at Ogden Regional Medical Center from 6-7 p.m. April 13. Those planning to attend are asked to pre-register by calling 866-887-3999. Masks will be required and provided for those in attendance.

If you or anyone you know is actively thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741 to speak with a professional crisis counselor. Call 911 if it is an active emergency.

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