Article: Mental Health Professionals See Spike in Services

POSTED: SEP 08, 2010 7:46 PM EDT
UPDATED: SEP 08, 2010 7:56 PM EDT

LAS VEGAS -- Police and mental health professionals believe the economy has been a factor for a recent spike in murder-suicides.

Las Vegas police say they've never seen anything like this before -- 11 murder-suicides so far this year just in Metro's jurisdiction. Mental health experts say there's no doubt the valley's economic crisis is a big part of the reason.

Eleven murder-suicides so far this year -- six within the past month alone -- have resulted in a dozen deaths. Years of severe economic recession appear to be pushing a growing number of people over the edge.

"This is pent up stress that has been building for years now and now it's turning to depression, and we're losing control and we don't have as much logic and common sense as we used to. And so our behavior gets more and more intense," said marriage and family therapist Donna Wilbur.

Wilbur says she is treating more clients for financially-related stress and depression at the Heads Up Guidance and Wellness Center in Downtown Las Vegas, where they offer low-cost counseling.

"The economy has intensified what is going on," she said.

"We are doing 50 group therapies a week, so we're very busy," said Ronald Lawrence, executive director of the non-profit Community Counseling Center.

Lawrence says economic stress is also driving more people to think about ending their own lives.

"We did a survey of one day's intakes and out of the eight people who came in that one day, two of them had made suicide attempts within the past couple of months," he said.

And when suicidal thoughts turn to uncontrollable anger and rage, that's when the leap to murder-suicide is most often made.

"If you see signs of depression, hopelessness, can't sleep, won't eat, angry all the time, overreacting to things, that's a sign that they're not coping well and something is wrong and you really need to look for help," said Wilbur.

Mental health professionals say don't wait to seek professional help thinking you cannot afford it. There are free and low-cost counseling services available in the community and in some cases, your health insurance may cover counseling costs.