Submitted photo Maureen Waybright, 62, who attempted suicide in the late 1990s, now serves as the recovery coordinator for the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board in Lisbon. She also works as a certified peer recovery supporter.

LISBON — In the late 1990s, Maureen Waybright had many of the typical trappings common to millions of women: She was a single mother raising two small daughters, she worked in the food services departments for two nursing homes, was a Girl Scout leader and a Sunday school teacher.

It didn’t take a deep dig under the surface and veneer of apparent normalcy, however, to uncover an abyss of darkness.

“When I was at work, I started to cry and couldn’t stop,” Waybright, 62, the recovery coordinator with the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, recalled. “I cried almost continuously for a week.”

Her sobbing bouts were far more serious than situational sadness.

They were a prelude to a diagnosis of depression that became more severe over time and that, many years later, resulted in being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, said Waybright, who also is a certified peer recovery supporter.

In July 1998, Waybright left her job because of her mental illness and, despite following recommendations and prescribed therapy options, her condition only worsened.

One evening, while reading a poem, she swallowed about 40 anti-anxiety pills to end her life, Waybright said.

“That night in July, I just wanted the pain and stress to go away. I didn’t want to die,” she added.

Consequently, Waybright was hospitalized about a month before a therapist theorized about why she was showing little improvement: Spirituality was missing from her life, Waybright said the mental health worker had told her.

After turning to God, she gradually improved, though no epiphanies occurred during that time. Part of her thought processes before the suicide attempt — like those of many who try to end their lives — was that others would be better off without her, Waybright explained.

“It was like being in a hole and trying to get out of it and not getting any place,” she said

Since those dark days, the 1980 Minerva High School graduate has emerged far into the light, though she continues to see a psychiatrist and a psychologist for her illness regularly. Nevertheless, the deep depression that had monopolized her ability to function well for five or six years “has lifted from my life,” Waybright said.

Also hampering Waybright during the time of her suicide attempt were certain prevailing attitudes and the stigma that still surrounds suicide.

Too often, such people were viewed 25 or 30 years ago as “crazy or nut cases,” and some in the general public bought into the myth that asking people if they’re suicidal will give those of them who aren’t the idea to follow through with it, she observed.

That dynamic in recent years and today, though, has shifted because more people who may be suicidal are willing to be open and frank in sharing their pain — including celebrities such as the actor and comedian Robin Williams, who suffered from depression before completing suicide Aug. 11, 2014, at age 63, Waybright noted.

In addition, it was initially difficult for family members to accept her mental illness, Waybright said, adding that she found a history of it on her mother’s side of the family.

Also helpful to those who are in a crisis and contemplating taking their lives are a variety of resources that include Help Network of the Mahoning Valley at 330-747-2696.

Those who are in crisis and considering suicide also can call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Despite the availability of assistance, the suicide rate in Mahoning County has increased slightly each year over the last several. The rates were 41, 44 and 53 suicides in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.

As of late July, 34 residents have died by suicide, Duane Piccirilli, the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board’s executive director, noted.

“We’re on track to go higher (than last year),” he said.

Calling the suicide rate “a major health crisis,” MCMHRB has sought assistance from the Ohio Department of Mental Health, and has partnered with a number of local agencies to further address the problem, Piccirilli added.

It’s also vital for the general public to be educated about the warning signs of a possible suicide so lay people can act as gatekeepers for those who might be considering taking their lives, he stressed.

The longtime mental health expert also cited QPR (question, persuade and refer) training aimed at reducing suicidal behaviors. Like using CPR to save someone’s life in a medical emergency, this approach teaches people how to help those dealing with mental emergencies via recognizing the warning signs of suicide, persuading those in crisis to seek help while offering hope and referring them to the proper places.

Piccirilli was unable to say why most suicides in the past were men age 70 and older, and the rates are now more spread out across additional age demographics.

In 2020, Waybright and her family suffered another blow when her daughters’ half-brother hanged himself and, like Waybright previously, had been convinced that others would be better off without him, she said.

“It made me see it from that perspective, and it was mind-blowing,” Waybright said, adding that his death forced her to more clearly see the devastating effects a suicide has on those left behind.

The first vital steps for people who are in such a crisis are to summon the courage to talk openly about it to a trusted person and realize they are not alone. It’s also crucial for those who are contemplating ending their lives to understand they have nothing to be ashamed of, she said, adding that suicide is the No. 2 cause of death among young people.

“There’s so much hope out there these days,” Waybright added.

Piccirilli echoed that sentiment while stressing the importance of more people acting as gatekeepers.

“If you see someone in trouble, don’t be afraid to reach out. Ask if they need help,” he said, adding, “One death is one too many.”

Common warning signs of suicide

• Making direct or indirect statements about a desire to die.

• Expressing great guilt or shame.

• Suddenly giving away prized possessions or heirlooms.

• Thinking about being a burden to others.

• Feeling empty, trapped or hopeless, or having no reason to live.

• Experiencing extreme sadness, anxiety, agitation, rage or mood swings.

• Formulating a plan or researching ways to die.

• Withdrawing from friends and / or favored activities.

• Engaging in risky behavior such as driving extremely fast.

• Using drugs or alcohol more frequently.

For help, call or text 988, chat at www.988lifeline.org or text “HELLO” to 741741.

Source:

National Institute of Mental Health