Losing a loved one to suicide is a devastating experience that can leave us feeling blindsided, much like Pooja Mehta when her younger brother Raj took his own life at just 19 years old in March 2020. Raj’s final text message was a mundane request for help with homework, leaving Pooja reeling with the shock of his sudden departure.
Pooja Mehta, a mental health and suicide prevention advocate in Arlington, Virginia, had undergone training in Mental Health First Aid, a program designed to equip individuals to recognize and respond to signs of mental illness. However, Raj had displayed no obvious signs of distress, leaving Pooja grappling with guilt and confusion.
Some criticized Pooja for not being able to prevent her brother’s suicide, pointing to the fact that they were living together during the COVID-19 pandemic while Raj attended online classes. Despite her training, Pooja emphasizes that the complexity of suicide prevention extends beyond our current understanding.
Raj’s tragic death occurred amid ongoing national efforts to reduce suicide rates through various strategies. Despite multiple initiatives launched by federal officials over the past two decades, the rates of suicide have continued to rise, painting a grim picture of the challenges faced in suicide prevention.
The latest strategy, which builds upon previous ones, aims to target populations disproportionately affected by suicide, such as Black youth and Native Americans. However, the struggle to effectively address this crisis persists due to issues with funding, implementation, and utilization of prevention strategies.
Cheryl Platzman Weinstock’s reporting is supported by a grant from the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation.
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