Suicide counselor: ‘I felt like a burden’

ENGLEWOOD — Amy Vogel attempted suicide at 23 years old.

She later discovered a long line of suicides in her family.

Vogel now works as a mental health counselor so that she can help those who are also struggling with severe mental health and suicidal ideations.

She visited EPIC Community Resource Center in Englewood to talk about how people can help prevent suicide as a part of its monthly Lunch and Learn series.

“I’m not here just because of pure luck,” Vogel said. “My grandfather died by suicide.”

Vogel said she knows all the “tricks of the trade” as a mental health professional since she was once in her clients shoes.

“I knew how to work mental health counselors, so I became one so people couldn’t work me so I can actually get them the real help,” she said. “I know that dark hole, and I know what it’s like to be suicidal.”

Vogel said “enough-is-enough” and began working as a crisis counselor on the suicide hotline until 2020.

She has learned tools to identify and intervene through her work as a crisis counselor and mental health counselor.

One of the biggest things, Vogel said, is using appropriate language.

“It’s important to model appropriate language, so we don’t perpetuate the stigma of suicide, or any other mental health conditions,” she said. “We avoid the words and phrase ‘committed suicide.’”

The term “commit suicide” originated due to suicidal deaths or attempts being criminalized before the Suicide Act of 1961. Those who attempted suicide and survived could be prosecuted and imprisoned.

“The people left behind would not get insurance money,” Vogel said. “They have a loss of their loved one, and then they had financial distress.”

It’s been 60 years since suicide was decriminalized, and mental health professionals are still making efforts to change how suicide is perceived.

“I didn’t try to ‘commit’ anything,” Vogel said. “I was just trying to make myself feel better because I felt like a burden.”

Less-judgmental language can appear makes it easier for people to talk about their mental health and/or suicidal ideations.

“When suicide is talked about safely and accurately, we can greatly reduce the likelihood of its occurrence,” she said. “We really want to change how society understands mental health and suicide — because when we open up and connect, talk saves lives.”

According to the World Health Organization, more than 70,000 people die by suicide worldwide each year. That’s one suicide every 14 seconds.

“While this is the most accurate data that we have, we estimate the numbers to be higher,” she said. “Suicide is under-recorded in many countries, including this one.”

In 2022, Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties had a suicide rate of 21 or higher, making the areas high risk, according to Florida Health Charts.

“Currently, suicide is the 11th leading causing of death in the U.S.,” Vogel said. “Suicide takes more lives in the U.S. than homicide and natural disasters combined.”

New data, research and studies are trying to understand what is considered risky behavior, and how to practice effective prevention. Vogel mentioned psychiatrist Daniel Amen, who is using brain scans to help identify mental health disorders.

“I did it, and I learned that my brain is highly impulsive,” she said. “I have PTSD and major depressive disorder.”

Research also indicates suicide most often occurs due to several stressors and health issues converging to create feelings of “hopelessness” and “despair.” Vogel also said a suicidal individual is usually at war with themselves.

“This research has important key strategies in suicide prevention that involve engaging that person that really want to stay alive, and helping create that distance,” she said. “For a suicidal person thinking becomes constricted at that point of crisis, a state of intense tunnel vision where other options seem unavailable.”

Factors like health, history and environment can help provide indicators on a person’s risk for suicide. These factors can range from life events that are stressful to irregular B-12 levels.

“There are proactive measures we can take to reduce these risk factors,” Vogel said. “We need to make sure, even the people we don’t know, we are reaching out.”

Proactive measures can include exercise, seeing a mental health professional, self care and finding an enjoyable activity or hobby.

“Behaviors that are atypical for an individual should also encourage you to speak to that person about what you’re noticing,” Vogel said. “Even if suicide turns out not to be a concern, they may still be in distress, and they may just want to feel comforted and supported — just by knowing that you care and are taking the time to listen.”

Vogel still goes to therapy to manage her mental health. It is a long-term battle, but her husband and kids — along with her faith and career — help her to keep pushing forward and talking about mental health.

“I never thought that my suicide attempt would create a purpose to help others through their suicide attempt,” she said. “I can’t even imagine the people that I’ve been able to save because God spared me.”