Suicide Prevention Group Holding Annual Conference In Chicago
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's a staggering number: 800,000 people commit suicide around the world each year, more than those who die in wars or by homicide.
A group at the forefront of suicide prevention is meeting at the Palmer House this week. CBS 2's Jim Williams was there.
Twenty years ago, DeQuincy Lezine was a brilliant student, a high achiever. From the outside he appeared to have it all.
"I had my pick of multiple colleges," Lezine said. "I think I got into 13 colleges."
He chose the Ivy League's Brown University, where overcome by smothering depression, he attempted suicide three times.
Lezine's friends intervened and he was hospitalized, where he was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.
Today, he is Dr Lezine, a psychologist, volunteering for the American Association of Suicidology, now holding what they call a suicide convention at the Palmer House.
"Our main reason for existing is to prevent suicide," says the president Dr. David Miller, who told us this convention is attended by mental health professionals and others touched by suicide.
"I lost my sister Jamie to suicide back in May of 2007," said Megan Pickell, who volunteers for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. For her, it's therapeutic.
"It's one of the hardest things in the world to lose someone to suicide, especially when you're blind-sided like my family was," Pickell said. "We did not see it coming with my sister."
Dr LeQuincy Lezine can tap into his own experience. to help others for it's too late.
"The thing that brings joy is to be able to talk to somebody or reach somebody when they're at their absolute depth and then have that elevate to be able to see them turn around to get hope," he said.
If you are having or you know someone having suicidal thoughts, please call the national suicide prevention lifeline at 800-273-TALK. The American Association of Suicidology convention runs through Saturday at the Palmer House. For more information, visit www.suicidology.org/annual-conference/49th-annual-conference.
