Aimed at addressing mental health issues facing the resettled Bhutanese in the U.S., a regional conference will be held in Harrisburg, PA from June 28-29. The conference will take place at Temple University of Harrisburg, and free registrations are open until June 6. Further information regarding registration and other details can be obtained by contacting PK Subedi (215-834-4070) and Ashok Gurung (412-961-4429). Click here to read details
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has called for video entries from any any Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugee who resided in the camps in Nepal and now lives in the United States. Videos should be made in Nepali. The deadline for submitting a video is Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Click here to read details.
The suicide rate of Bhutanese refugees after resettlement has hit the national top rate in the United States since the resettlement began in 2008. This is growing as such an alarming issue, which needs intervention.
Of all those who took their own lives, most are young adults. Only few of the elderly people have thought about killing themselves. It is more disturbing when we think about the suicide of an aspiring high school graduate who was ready to go college.
The causative factors stimulating the suicidal thoughts are not the same. The transition to new life in American cities have drastically changed younger people’s way of thinking, some taking American freedom for granted. Opportunities are aplenty for both brighter side and darker side of life; it is the individual and family to decide which one leads to prosperity. In some cases of youths attempting to suicide, the darker side is chosen, and is more accessible. Cultural shock for the elderly is obvious, but disintegration of family values by subsequent generations has also aggravated their ailment.
Let’s spread the words out to the community that suicide is preventable and that help is available.
Editorial Board, BNS
[email protected]
[If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide in the United States, call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. A free, 24/7 service that can provide suicidal persons or those around them with support, information and local resources.]
Warning signs of suicide
• Talking about wanting to die
• Looking for a way to kill oneself
• Talking about feeling of hopelessness or having no purpose
• Talking about feeling trapped
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious, agitated or recklessly
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
A survivor’s testimony from BNS
Things became worse to me once we started living separate. This is when I became too frustrated. At times, I felt lonely and depressed. I felt badly betrayed. I dropped my studies. I lost my job. I kept struggling to live my normal life. I did not share this to anyone. When my family members happened to check on me, I pretended everything going fine.
The level of frustration kept rising. I gradually started withdrawing from social life. I preferred to remain out of contact. I began to think that there was no one ready to support or care me. I felt irritated to talk to people, even with family members.
Read more..
Source: U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. View more survivors’s stories here.
