The Biohazard Report - May 2024

Name: Bio-One of Columbus
Brand: Bio-One of Columbus
Rating: 4.7 (27 reviews)

Biohazard symbol with the words Bio-One and Help First, Business Second

“Never give up on someone with a mental illness. When 'I' is replaced by 'we,' Illness becomes Wellness.”
~Shannon L. Alder

How Are You?

(No Really, How Are You?)

"Fine."

"Okay."

"Alright."

We’ve all had someone tell us they were one of those things and known that it couldn’t be further from the truth. Maybe it was the look on their face, the tone of their voice, or their body language that gave them away – or maybe you’ve noticed that they have been acting differently lately.

Distress can show up in many ways. Whether someone thinks they are doing a good job of masking their emotions, or they are obviously being sarcastic when they say that they’re alright, it’s normal to want to help in some way. While what you say will likely be different depending on how well you know the person, here are some ideas for things to say to create an environment that encourages someone to open up about what they’re going through.

“Are you sure? If you want to talk, let me know.”
“It seems like something is bothering you. I’m here to listen if you want to share.” •
“I’ve been ‘fine’ before – I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“Do you want to (get coffee/go to lunch/grab a bite/take a walk) later? I feel like we have a lot to catch up on.”
“That wasn’t very convincing – I’m here if you want to chat.”
"How are you - really?"

When You Aren't "Fine"

If you feel sad, worried, or scared after trying to help yourself or reaching out to others, you might be showing the early warning signs of a mental health condition.

Visit mhascreening.org to take an anonymous, free, and private mental health test. After you are finished you will be given information about next steps..
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting HELLO to 741741.

Someone Opens Up To You - Now What?

Start a conversation about mental health when there is an open window of time to have an in-depth discussion, and neither you or the person you’re talking to will have to cut the conversation short to take care of other obligations. Plan to set aside at least 30 minutes to an hour.

Do....

Start with a text if face-to-face is too intimidating.
Listen. Really listening means actively paying attention to the person who is speaking and resisting the urge to talk about personal experiences unless asked. This is hard for everyone, but practice helps!
Ask if they’ve thought about what they might need to feel better. If they haven’t, offer to support, listen, and talk it out with them. If they have, support them in following through with their needs.
Make sure to keep things confidential, unless it is life threatening.
Normalize. Assure the person you’re talking to that having a mental health concern is common, and
there are lots of resources to help them feel better.
Prepare to follow up. It takes courage for someone to speak up about what is bothering them. Exchange contact information (if you don’t have it already) and touch base in a few days to see how the person is feeling and if there is anything you can do to help.
Research some resources like websites, hotlines, text lines, and community organizations so you can be prepared to offer them if it seems appropriate.

Don't...

Tell them, “You shouldn’t think that way.” It can be difficult to have conversations about mental health concerns, and they may have worried about it for some time before talking to you.
Use the word “crazy.”
Tell someone what they SHOULD do; instead, ask what they want you to help them with.
Assume that they want your advice. Many times, people just want someone else to listen to them and help them feel less alone.
Make comparisons. Telling someone “it could be worse” minimizes their experience and invalidates their feelings.
Take on trying to fix all the person’s problems. Offer help where appropriate, but don’t get into a trap of trying to solve the problem, especially if it seems like a professional should be involved

Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.

Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/

Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus

If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (en español: 1-888-628-9454; deaf and hard of hearing: dial 711, then 1-800-273-8255) or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

Girl Upset - Suicide Prevention Resources

According to the American Psychiatric Association, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the second leading cause of death (after accidents) for people aged 10 to 34. And according the CDC, published reports from 2020 suggest that the pandemic has had a negative effect on children’s mental health.

“Beginning in April 2020, the proportion of children’s mental health–related ED visits among all pediatric ED visits increased and remained elevated through October. Compared with 2019, the proportion of mental health–related visits for children aged 5–11 and 12–17 years increased approximately 24%. and 31%, respectively.”

Researchers have yet to link recent suicides to the pandemic since 2020 suicide data is not yet available. But on the ground, there's growing concern.

The February 2021 NPR article “Child Psychiatrists Warn That The Pandemic May Be Driving Up Kids' Suicide Risk” explores possible correlation. Takeaways include:

NPR spoke with providers at hospitals in seven states across the country, and all of them reported a similar trend: More suicidal children are coming to their hospitals — in worse mental states.
The number of kids with suicide attempts coming to the emergency room at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, in California, in the fall of 2020 was double the number in the fall of 2019.
At Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, the number of children and teens hospitalized after suicide attempts went up from 67 in 2019 to 108 in 2020. And October 2020 saw a 250% increase in these numbers over the previous October.

For ways to help kids at risk, NPR encourages readers to read Part 2 of their story, “Make Space, Listen, Offer Hope: How To Help A Child At Risk Of Suicide”.

Suicide Prevention Resources

Whether you have struggled with suicide yourself or have lost a loved one, know you are not alone. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has collected real stories from people in whose lives have been impacted by suicide.
The American Association of Suicidology offers a national directory for support groups for both attempt and loss survivors of suicide.
The SAVE organization (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) has a variety of help guides including restricting access to lethal means, warning signs of suicide, and suicide prevention.

Survivors of Suicide – What to Do Next

The loss of a loved one by suicide can be a deeply painful and traumatizing experience; however, it’s important to know that everyone experiences suicide loss in their own way. As you begin the process of healing, consider reading the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s guide for to talk to others about what happened and identify ways to take care of yourself.

Additionally, if you have lost someone to suicide, there may be a cleanup required. There is no need for family or friends of the loved one to be further traumatized or overwhelmed with trying to figure out how to clean the impacted area. Bio-One is here for you. Learn more about Bio-One’s suicide remediation services.