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SUPPLEMENT TO THE CAPE CODDER, THE REGISTER, HARWICH ORACLE, BOURNE ENTERPRISE, BOURNE COURIER, THE BULLETIN, FALMOUTH ENTERPRISE, VOL. XXII NO. 4 • Fall 2014 MASHPEE ENTERPRISE, SANDWICH BROADSIDER, SANDWICH ENTERPRISE, WAREHAM COURIER Rising Suicide Rate Stirs Cape By Larry Fox The recent death of Robin Williams presents at least two ironies: The first, of course, the tragic clown. Sec- ond, the combination of the actor’s celebrity and the grisly accounts of his demise have succeeded in bring- ing the growing problem of suicide out of the shadows into the arena of public discourse. (Just check the num- ber of references in the leads of our related stories!) It is a national problem, where there were 40,000 deaths by suicide in 2011 (the most recent statistic available) compared to 16,000 deaths by homicide. Massachusetts may have one of the lowest suicide Chart courtesy of Barnstable County Dept. of Human Services rates in the country. But it is a growing problem on the Cape, where in Barnstable County the number of suicides has doubled in the decade between 2000 and 2011 to represent the highest rate in state and 1.4 WE REMEMBER: With the flag in the background times higher than the state average. The 320 suicides symbolically at half staff, County Commissioner outpaced homicides by a 6-to-1 ratio. Sheila Lyons assists one of the survivors to attach These figures were presented by Jessica McHugh, ribbons to the string of remembrance for the third co-chair of the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention year in recognition of National Suicide Preven- Coalition as she set the table for a full discussion of tion Week September 11 before a special meeting the Advisory Board of To Your Good Health, A Health of the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coali- Care Newsletter, at Cape Cod Community College. tion at the Barnstable County Courthouse. The 21 “But it’s really all about the people behind the sta- yellow ribbons represent memory of those lost to tistics. They feel the only way to stop their pain is to suicide, the 14 blue and purple versions represent go over a cliff. They don’t think about landing on the prevention and a message of hope. And each year, bottom, just that this is one way to get ‘somebody to they report, the number of ribbons and ceremony notice my pain,’” she said, “But suicide is preventable participants has increased. Inset, County Commis- and we try to educate the community with a basic sioner Bill Doherty delivering a moving memoir of course stressing the need to communicate and to lis- his own two sons lost to suicide. ten and notice the early warning signs.” The growth in our suicide rates has placed a strain on local treatment facilities, according to Debbie Cia- she added, is “the growing numbers of children and ways depression. They want to be like the others. And vola, executive director of Cape Cod Healthcare’s Cen- adolescents in need of treatment due to increasing then there’s always the problem that they get on medi- ters for Behavioral Health. “We don’t have enough stress and lack of self-esteem.” cation, feel better and say they don’t need them any services here and what we do have is booked up. Plus Dr. Herbert Mathewson, a pediatrician and Medical more…until they go down again. there’s a limited number of psychiatrists as well,” she Director of the VNA of Cape Cod (and the medical ad- “Plus,” she suggested, “it pays to look more closely said, also citing the lack of state funding and the frus- viser of this newsletter), agrees. “Adolescents unique- at those single car ‘accidents.’” trating search for outside grants. ly struggle with their sexual identity in high school. Cheryl Osimo, Executive Director of the Massachu- Exacerbating the situation…and more disturbing, There must be separate support groups just for them... setts Breast Cancer Coalition, has a unique perspective. and safe places as well.” “Women when first diagnosed with breast cancer Unstable families also create problems for children, often are in shock. They feel a sense of hopelessness.” he added, and one of the questions pediatricians have she said. “Rather than enduring the journey to well- to ask is, “Are there any guns in the house? Because ness, they think it would be better for them and their suicide is an impulse and they have to be put in a safe place where children can’t get to them.” Continued on page 4 “And keep the bullets separate,” Ms. McHugh chimed in, adding, “It’s interesting that (in suicides) young people attempt more, seniors complete more.” To Our Readers Alcohol also can be a factor, according to Liz Smith, If you’re interested in learning more about a nursing facility administrator, citing the incident of our advertisers and editorial contributors, To Your a young man in middle school in the emergency room BE SEEING YOU SOON? Could Cheryl Bartlett, Cape Good Health, A Health Care Newsletter, has now after his second failed suicide attempt who was told resident and Commissioner of the Massachusetts put them just a click away if you go to our newly by the physician there, “If you keep on with alcohol Department of Public Health, be tipping off friends upgraded website, toyourgoodhealth.com. you will die.” that she soon would become Executive Director of Simply click on the ad or the identifying para- She added, “He had to hit bottom, but his friends the Cape Cod Regional Substance Abuse Prevention graph on the bottom of most articles and—with rescued him.” Initiative and Public Health? This photo was taken the few exceptions where we don’t have that Geri Medeiros, special programs coordinator at August 14 when she participated in ribbon-cutting information as yet—you will immediately be Cape Cod Community College, noted “We see a lot of ceremony for Harbor Community Health Center- linked to the appropriate web set or one of those problems in the college. Social media is a big problem, Hyannis’s new digs on Attucks Lane. (Full story of “contact us” e-mail forms. Ms. Bartlett’s appointment appears on page 2.) there’s the question of sexual identity and there’s al- 2 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH, A Health Care Newsletter Fall 2014 Keating Proposal Addresses Medicare Abuse By Congressman Bill Keating cannot exclude an official who resigned or was ter- Medicare is one of the most important programs As the Representative for the 9th minated before a conviction. Therefore, the official created by our federal government. Our seniors have District of Massachusetts, which is can then join a new company and potentially resume worked hard and made sacrifices to ensure a better, home to the largest population of fraudulent activities. Should H.R. 5340 be signed into stronger country for future generations and they de- senior citizens in the Common- law, this loophole would be closed, and we would be serve a secure and stable Medicare program. wealth, I understand the unique able to exclude such an individual from reentering the The Fighting Medicare Fraud Act is an important challenges that many within our Medicare program, an obvious safeguard against fu- step toward ensuring that the health care system that senior community face. I have ture fraudulent activities. they’ve earned remains strong for those who rely on it heard time and time again that one The bill also would add a new penalty for stealing in their daily lives. of their concerns is that the services they rely on, such or selling a Medicare ID number. Under current law, (Congressman Keating (D-MA) represents the as Medicare, remain robust and available to those Cape & Islands and South Shore 9th District) who need them. One such way is by eliminating fraud and abuse Capitol Hill UPDATE that, sadly, is still present within the Medicare system. For this reason I was proud to introduce legislation that, if passed, would close important loopholes in ex- there is no specific federal offense for participating Bartlett To Lead isting Medicare law. in this type of activity, even though many fraudu- This Fighting Medicare Fraud Act (H.R. 5340) spe- lent Medicare activities involve illegal distribution cifically would close a loophole that allows CEOs and of Medicare ID numbers. Under this proposed law, a Cape’s Anti-Drug parent corporations to defraud Medicare even after new penalty of up to 15 years in prison would be es- they were caught and punished for earlier fraudulent tablished for selling or stealing a Medicare ID num- activity. ber, which would greatly assist authorities in cracking Abuse Group Current law allows the Health and Human Services down on criminals who target seniors. With the impending end of the Deval Patrick Office of The Inspector General to exclude from the Finally, H.R. 5340 would require Medicare Advan- administration, Department of Public Health, Medicare system those companies and officials con- tage and prescription drug organizations to report Commissioner Cheryl Bartlett is returning to victed of fraud. fraud and abuse, something that is currently not re- the Cape as Executive Director of the Cape Cod Now, due to an oversight in the existing law, we quired. Regional Substance Abuse Prevention Initiative (CCRSAPI) and Public Health. She will be employed by Cape Cod Healthcare to lead the conglomerate of health and humans services groups launched in March. Weight loss surgery at Southcoast. Ms. Bartlett was named to lead the DPH in 2013. She will leave that post December 12 and will begin her new role two days later after a week- Get your health – end hiatus to catch her breath.

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