![\"Lauren](\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/strong-expansion-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Lauren-Opladen-9-web.jpg\")
Her bed was one of the things that Lauren Opladen missed the most. So when she finally got back after a month away from home, that\u2019s where she headed.<\/p>\n[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” background_color=”#00205b” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”50px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
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Her bed was one of the things that Lauren Opladen missed the most. So when she finally got back after a month away from home, that\u2019s where she headed.<\/p>\n
The sheets were cool and soft. The blankets, heavy and comforting. She felt safe. And as she fell asleep, she thought happily that she might never want to get out of bed again.<\/p>\n
But by morning, something profound had changed. She still didn\u2019t want to leave her bed, but the warm, content feelings were gone, replaced by those far more ominous. And as the morning wore on, they became more and more acute.<\/p>\n
No, she didn\u2019t want to get out of bed. She didn\u2019t want to move. She didn\u2019t want to do anything. She didn\u2019t want to live.<\/p>\n
People who have been close to a suicide \u2014 those who have had either a family member or close friend take their own life \u2014 are at much higher risk at attempting it themselves. \u201cIt can definitely be a red flag for us as counselors,\u201d said Matt Drury, therapist in the partial hospitalization program at Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n
When Lauren attempted to take her own life, six years had passed since her older brother, Joshua, had taken his at age 17.<\/p>\n
Four years later, Lauren\u2019s father \u2014 for whom she had been a primary caretaker \u2014 passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Her family then moved from Greece to Spencerport, upending her social life. And after a surgery for congenital hip dysplasia, which required a year of rehabilitation, Lauren was unable to play soccer, which had been her primary escape for years.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of things were just going downhill,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But at this crucial period in her life, with many of her safety nets falling apart, she did the one thing that comes as difficult to many teens in a similar position: She sought help.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a close friend who was also struggling, and we both told each other the same thing: If it gets bad, make sure to speak up,\u201d said Lauren. \u201cA water bottle can only fill up so much before it overflows.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"McKenzi](\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/strong-expansion-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Lauren-Opladen-3-web.jpg\")
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Lauren\u2019s first attempt to get help came in the form of Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital\u2019s partial hospitalization service, a program where teenagers struggling with suicidality and other significant mental health concerns stay in the hospital from Monday through Friday during school hours. The program accommodates 22 teens at any given time \u2014 that number will increase to 33 once the new Golisano Pediatric Behavioral Health building opens later this year \u2014 and priority is given to those who are struggling with severe depression but can safely stay at home during evenings and weekends.<\/p>\n
The program is a mix of various therapies, including one-on-one sessions, group discussions, and activity therapy, such as music or art therapy. There\u2019s also some classroom learning mixed in \u2014 care providers coordinate with the student\u2019s teachers to ensure they don\u2019t fall too far behind on schoolwork.<\/p>\n
One major goal of the program is to establish a solid safety plan for when suicidal thoughts set in, which means identifying supports and developing coping mechanisms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go through warning signs, triggers for major stressors, and talk about who is their major support system,\u201d said Drury, who served as Lauren\u2019s primary therapist when she was in the program.<\/p>\n
Once equipped with these coping tools, some patients get their feet underneath them and are able to return to care in an outpatient setting. Others need more support.<\/p>\n
Lauren initially spent time in partial hospitalization, but her depression continued to grow worse, so she was admitted into the inpatient unit, where patients spend 24 hours a day. She remained there for a month before she was moved back to the partial hospitalization.<\/p>\n
She got home that first night, missing her bed. That next day was when she woke up, wanting to end her life. She attempted suicide that morning.<\/p>\n
![\"Lauren](\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/strong-expansion-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/20180713_154120.jpg\")
After the attempt, she spent another month back in the inpatient unit. She engaged in more work, more discovery, and more treatment. It\u2019s hard for her to put her finger on what, specifically, helped her symptoms improve. But that month, she says, was a turning point.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe staff just really helped me,\u201d she said. \u201cThey were a big part of my recovery because I really gained a connection with many of the people there. I knew I could talk to them \u2014 even now, I\u2019ll go and visit them sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Upon release, she transitioned to an outpatient care setting, and began seeing a therapist once a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important to meet a patient where they are at, identify what progress they\u2019d like to achieve in treatment, and engage in safety planning to help prepare for more challenging days. Lauren engaged well and worked to identify activities to engage in that she enjoyed to help mediate challenging events or stressors,\u201d said McKenzie Smallcomb, Lauren\u2019s clinician at the children\u2019s hospital\u2019s Behavioral Health and Wellness Outpatient Services. \u201cLauren exhibited many strengths that contribute to resiliency including empathy for others and humor. She was always talking about being there for others.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"You](\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/strong-expansion-project\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/youre-not-alone-web.jpg\")
With Smallcomb, Lauren was able to expand on the safety plan that she\u2019d developed with Drury. Now, Lauren has celebrated many exciting life updates, welcoming a pit-bull mix named Chief\u2014who she adores and walks every day\u2014and her graduation from The College at Brockport with a nursing degree. She is now an Intensive Care Unit nurse at Strong Memorial Hospital and continues her advocacy for mental health services.<\/p>\n
The coping skills she learned have been suiting her well as of late. But Lauren knows that her symptoms could come back. And that\u2019s why, she\u2019s sharing her story: She wants anyone who reads it to do the same thing if they are struggling.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to tell someone,\u201d said Lauren. \u201cNo one can do it alone.\u201d Fortunately, she\u2019s not afraid to ask for help.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1707752378023{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-bottom: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;background-color: #e7e7e7 !important;}”]\u2014Story by URMC Communications<\/strong>, March 4, 2019. Updated January 2024[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”75px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” background_color=”#00205b” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”50px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text] ‘You are not alone’ [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text] She didn\u2019t want to live. Her bed was one of the things that Lauren Opladen missed the most. So when…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full_width.php","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1566","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n