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Friday, September 25, 2009 Suicide is preventable; be aware of the signs A phone call might have saved Debbie Simon. BARBARA VENEZIA: FOOD FOR THOUGHT CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST Suicide is on the rise worldwide. More than 33,000 Americans will take their lives this year. Each story just as tragic as this one, but this one's rocking the world of high society gals in Newport Beach. One of their own killed herself. Debbie Simon lived in a fabulous mansion on Harbor Island. There were stories of husband Arnie's company, Aris Industries, taking Calvin Klein Jeans public and a major brand broker for labels like Baby Phat, XOXO and Brooks Brothers. His deals worth millions, their lifestyle lavish. But money can't buy happiness. Tongues wagged when Arnie played himself on the reality TV series "The Gastineau Girls" in 2005-06. The show followed the exploits of Lisa Gastineau, (ex-wife of NFL player Mark Gastineau), and her daughter Brittny, showing Arnie's on-screen affair with Lisa. TV audiences peeked into Debbie's high life in 2007 when Style Network premiered "Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane." The New Jersey mansion, Kimora, that Lee Simmons lived in and the over-the top closet featured in episodes reportedly was Debbie's. But behind the houses, the cars and big checks written to charities, something else was going on. Something far more serious, a woman's life was spinning out of control. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, most people are uncomfortable talking about suicide, which is why we need to. *Someone takes their life every 16 minutes in the U.S. *Clinical depression is the most common risk factor after heredity and mental illness. *Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S.; homicide is 13th. *More women attempt suicide than men; more men succeed. *Suicide is the second leading cause of death in college students. *Largest increase in suicide rates nationally – white middle-aged women. *Highest rate of suicide – men over 65. Suicide is preventable. Look for behavioral changes in sleep and eating patterns, dramatic mood changes, abuse of drugs or alcohol, giving away cherished items, discontinuing medication for depression or other mental illness. Contrary to popular belief, those who talk about killing themselves often do. If you're one of them, get help. There are people who love you. www.suicide.org, 714-639-4673, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.afsp.org. Suicide leaves so many unanswered questions. What drove Debbie to the edge? Why didn't she reach out? Was it the divorce? Losing the world she'd grown accustom to? We'll never know. What we do know is a beautiful vibrant woman chose to end her life hanging from a banister in her multi-million-dollar waterfront mansion on Harbor Island. Awareness and a simple phone call might have saved her; that's the real tragedy. In researching this article I was especially touched by what Kevin Caruso, executive director of Suicide.org , states on the home page of the site, "The first thing that I want you to know is that virtually every person that I have talked with who attempted suicide, and survived, was glad that they lived. ...The emotions that were causing the suicidal feelings did pass. Things got better; the sun did come out. So, let me extend that hope to you." |
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