Concordia Shows “Suicide: The Ripple Effect”

by Daniel Heitshusen

In the past two weeks, Concordia hosted three screenings of the movie “Suicide: The Ripple Effect,” co-directed and co-produced by Kevin Hines and Greg Dicharry. The Seward County Suicide Prevention Coalition coordinated this event.

“(The Coalition is) a group of different county agencies that work to prevent suicide through different resources and by coordinating the LOSS team,” campus nurse Andreea Baker said in an email interview. “(The LOSS team) is a group of survivors of suicide and then mental health clinicians that will go out and visit with family and friends after someone has completed a suicide.”

The documentary is about Kevin Hines, who survived jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, and how suicide has a ripple effect. The movie also shares the stories of many other people who have dealt with suicide either by attempting it themselves, or by experiencing the death by suicide of a loved one.

While the film is primarily about suicide, it also addresses mental health, as Hines struggles with bipolar disorder.

“(M)ental health is not talked about enough,” junior Maggie Goltz said in an email interview. “This film reiterates the need for us to be there for each other and talk about things we are struggling with.”

The movie’s website, www.suicidetherippleeffect.com, states, “Suicide is an epidemic that takes over 800,000 lives globally every year. In the United States alone there are 1 million suicide attempts and over 40,000 deaths by suicide every year. Our United States Military is devastatingly impacted with 22 veterans dying every day by suicide.”

Concordia endeavors to continue to spread awareness about suicide. Baker plans on showing the movie again, and leading Question Persuade Response (QPR) training, which covers basic ways to help someone, will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 13.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please see the resources below:

Free Resources for Concordia Students:

Pastor Ryan Matthias: ryan.matthias@cune.edu

Campus Nurse Andreea Baker: andreea.baker@cune.edu

Campus Counseling Office: counselingoffice@cune.edu

Free Resources for Anyone:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

CenterPointe Crisis Response Line: 402-475-6695

1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

Text START to 741-741

Other Resources:

Bryan West Emergency Department, 2300 S. 16th Street, Lincoln, NE