A suicide attempt survivor is meeting with SE Iowa youth to end teen suicides

FAIRFIELD, Iowa – In 2018, high school student Emma Benoit from Louisiana nearly lost her life from a self-inflicted gunshot wound that left her paralyzed.

“I couldn’t mentally rationalize the gravity of suicide. I didn’t know it was that permanent until it was almost gone,” Benoit told students in Fairfield on Thursday.

Now, after an unexpected recovery, he devotes himself to helping young people find hope.

Hosted by the Jefferson County Mental Health Alliance, Benoit spoke to students from Fairfield High School, as well as peers from Maharishi Secondary and Cardinal High School.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Iowans between the ages of 10 and 34.

Across the country, suicide takes the lives of 20 young people every day.

As a young adult, Benoit connects with teenagers as peers, sharing her experiences leading up to her suicide attempt.

She describes her life as seemingly perfect, but she had difficulty admitting to herself and her loved ones the burden of anxiety and depression.

One day it became unbearable.

In his documentary, Benoit interviews professors at Louisiana State University who note that teenagers are going through significant developmental changes but, despite their limited life experience, face new pressures to help them cope.

“Feeling stuck is something you’re never alone with,” Benoit said in response to a student’s question. “Every person feels stuck at some point. But it’s really up to you to rise above the lies your brain may be telling you. Remind yourself that this too shall pass. Nothing in life is permanent.”

In the Fairfield Community School District, counselors can conduct weekly sessions, working with the Great Prairie Area, Sieda and River Hills Educational Agency to meet the needs of students.

Benoit emphasizes that the stigma around mental health made her feel weak, which led her to suppress her struggles, which ultimately led her to pull the trigger.

District social support specialist Agustin Harless reminds students they are not alone.

Harless said, “Often when I give advice, I simply say, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You may be afraid, but reach out anyway. Everything good that happened to me was thanks to the help of others. It’s hard, but it’s important to rely on each other.”