Hey everyone,
A few days ago there has been a great loss in the Youtube community and the entertainment industry.
Stevie Ryan was born June 2, 1984, in Riverside, California. At the age of two, Ryan and her family relocated to Victorville, where her parents operated a trucking business. In 2002, she graduated from Silverado High School.
At the age of 19, Ryan made the move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
Throughout 2006 and 2007, she continued to book various commercial projects while also filming, editing, and acting in videos which she posted on Youtube. Ryan collaborated with New Wave Entertainment in 2010 on the sketch comedy show Stevie TV, which parodied famous pop culture personalities and phenomena. The show was picked up by VH1. Stevie TV was canceled after the second season.
Ryan was found dead in her home from an apparent suicide by hanging on July 1, 2017, at the age of 33.
I believe this is an appropriate time to remind everyone, that with the right support and community, situations like these can be avoided. So I want to inform you all of what you can do to help anyone in the situation or if you yourself are going through this situation.
Myth: People who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Fact: Almost everyone who attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Don’t ignore even indirect references to death or suicide. Statements like "You'll be sorry when I'm gone," "I can't see any way out," — no matter how casually or jokingly said, may indicate serious suicidal feelings.
Myth: Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.
Fact: Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief-stricken, depressed or despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness.
Myth: If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop them.
Fact: Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.
Myth: People who die by suicide are people who were unwilling to seek help.
Fact: Studies of suicide victims have shown that more than half had sought medical help in the six months prior to their deaths.
Myth: Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.
Fact: You don't give a suicidal person morbid ideas by talking about suicide. The opposite is true—bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly is one of the most helpful things you can do.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT SUICIDE
POSSIBLE SIGNS SOMEONE MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE
Most suicidal individuals give warning signs or signals of their intentions. The best way to prevent suicide is to recognize these warning signs and respond to them.
Situations:
A few days ago there has been a great loss in the Youtube community and the entertainment industry.
Stevie Ryan was born June 2, 1984, in Riverside, California. At the age of two, Ryan and her family relocated to Victorville, where her parents operated a trucking business. In 2002, she graduated from Silverado High School.
At the age of 19, Ryan made the move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
Throughout 2006 and 2007, she continued to book various commercial projects while also filming, editing, and acting in videos which she posted on Youtube. Ryan collaborated with New Wave Entertainment in 2010 on the sketch comedy show Stevie TV, which parodied famous pop culture personalities and phenomena. The show was picked up by VH1. Stevie TV was canceled after the second season.
Ryan was found dead in her home from an apparent suicide by hanging on July 1, 2017, at the age of 33.
I believe this is an appropriate time to remind everyone, that with the right support and community, situations like these can be avoided. So I want to inform you all of what you can do to help anyone in the situation or if you yourself are going through this situation.
First, let's talk about some of the myths that people believe about suicide.
Myth: People who talk about suicide won't really do it.
Fact: Almost everyone who attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Don’t ignore even indirect references to death or suicide. Statements like "You'll be sorry when I'm gone," "I can't see any way out," — no matter how casually or jokingly said, may indicate serious suicidal feelings.
Myth: Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.
Fact: Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They must be upset, grief-stricken, depressed or despairing, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness.
Myth: If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop them.
Fact: Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the very last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die. Most suicidal people do not want death; they want the pain to stop. The impulse to end it all, however overpowering, does not last forever.
Myth: People who die by suicide are people who were unwilling to seek help.
Fact: Studies of suicide victims have shown that more than half had sought medical help in the six months prior to their deaths.
Myth: Talking about suicide may give someone the idea.
Fact: You don't give a suicidal person morbid ideas by talking about suicide. The opposite is true—bringing up the subject of suicide and discussing it openly is one of the most helpful things you can do.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT SUICIDE
- Reach Out - Ask them directly if they are thinking about suicide. It needs to be a direct question that can’t be misinterpreted. "Are you thinking about suicide?" Most people with thoughts of suicide want to talk about it. They want to live – but desperately need someone to hear their pain and offer them help to keep safe.Don’t be afraid to ask them if they are thinking about suicide. This shows you care and they’re not alone.
- Listen to them - Allow them to express their feelings. Let them do most of the talking. They will often feel a great sense of relief someone wants to talk to them about their darkest thoughts.
- Check their safety - If you are really worried don’t leave them alone. Remove any means of suicide including weapons, medications, drugs, alcohol, even access to a car. Get help by calling emergency services. You can also take them to the local hospital emergency department.
- Decide what to do and take action - Talk about steps you can take together to keep them safe. Don’t agree to keep it a secret, you shouldn’t be the only one supporting this person. You may need help from someone else to persuade them to get help. You can also help by finding out information on what resources and services are available for a person who is considering suicide.
- Ask for a promise - Thoughts of suicide may return, so ask them to promise to reach out and tell someone. Asking them to promise makes it more likely they will tell someone.
- Get help - There are lots of services and people that can help and provide assistance.
- GP (doctor)
- Counselor, psychologist, social worker
- School Counsellor
- Emergency Services
- Community Health Centres
- Crisis support services like Lifeline, Kids Helpline
- Seek support from family and friends, youth group leader, sports coach, priest, minister or religious leader etc.
POSSIBLE SIGNS SOMEONE MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE
Most suicidal individuals give warning signs or signals of their intentions. The best way to prevent suicide is to recognize these warning signs and respond to them.
Situations:
- Recent loss (a loved one, job, relationship or pet)
- Major disappointment (missed promotion at work, failed exams)
- Change in circumstances (divorce, retirement, separation, children leaving home)
- Mental disorder/illness
- Physical illness/injury
- Suicide of someone they know or recognize
- Financial/Legal problems
- Hopelessness
- Feeling trapped
- Depression
- Irritable/moody, angry
- Worthlessness
- No sense of purpose/reason for living
- Previous suicide attempts
- Talking or writing about suicide/death, even if it seems to be a joke
- Seeking access to something they can kill themselves with
- Being moody, withdrawn or sad
- Saying goodbye/giving away possessions
- Losing interest in things they previously enjoyed
- Taking less care of their appearance
- Anxiety or agitation, including difficulty concentrating or sleeping
- Engaging in self-destructive or risky behavior
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Withdrawal from other people
- Sometimes a positive mood after a period of being down may indicate the person has made up their mind to take their own life and feels relief that the decision has been made
