As suicides increase, psychologist says suicidal thoughts ‘not uncommon’

A Socorro High School student said suicide seemed like the only option for him as he searched his father’s house looking for a rope.

“I was going to take my life and I went downstairs and I was looking for a way to end it all quickly,” senior Nikolas Martinez said.

More than 41,000 Americans commit suicide each year in the United States.

“I think it is a terrible legacy,” Psychologist Dr. Richard Patterson said. ” I do not judge people who have done it. They were people in great pain who felt they had no other option.”

In the Borderland, the numbers of suicides have seen a drastic increase over the past five years.

From 2011 to 2014 the suicide rate more than doubled in the Borderland, going from 46 to 96.

In 2015 the Borderland saw a minor dip, 71. The following year, 2016, the numbers increased to 86 suicides and this year El Paso has already seen 42 from Jan. 1, which means if trends continue the city will break 80.

Martinez nearly became a statistic when he was moments away from committing suicide. “I felt like I had a lot of weight on my shoulders and I didn’t want to carry it anymore,” Martinez said.

The rising senior was battling family issues, relationship trials and had recently lost a best friend to suicide. “It was like one thing after another, you know? It was a lot to take in and that’s when the thoughts of suicide crept in,” Martinez said.

Patterson said people having thoughts about ending their lives is not uncommon at all. “When people are holding onto those thoughts and they begin to say how they might do it, if they kill themselves, that is when we begin to get concerned or alarmed,” he said.

Martinez said he planned to hang himself, which is a common method, second behind using a gun.

“It is something that is more accessible,” Patterson said.”If I want to kill myself, I would have a better chance finding a rope instead of a gun.”

Patterson said whenever someone is contemplating suicide it’s vital to tell someone. “If you keep it inside it will begin to grow a life of its own,” he said.

Martinez never reached out to anyone. “I won’t lie, I put a smile on my face,” he said,” I would joke around with friends and do teenage stuff.”

“A person no matter what their age needs to tell someone,” Patterson said.

Less than a month ago Martinez came moments away from taking his own life. “I was going to take my life and I went downstairs and I was looking for a way to end it all quickly and that’s when I heard my dad wake up and I was like, I cant do this,” Martinez said.

When asked what would have happened if his father had not woken up, Martinez answered, “I would have killed myself that night.”

After the incident Martinez told his parents the following day and is now getting the help he needs.

“I am selfish for even considering it,” Martinez said. “You have to value your life, but when I was there I didn’t value it.”

If you or anyone you know is contemplating suicide get help!

“These are tough times and I think hope is a difficult commodity to come by,” Patterson said. ” If you are losing hope you need to talk to someone about it.”