BENTON, Ark. (September 11, 2025) – Outwardly, even to his family, U.S. Army Sgt. 1^st Class Jorge Gomez seemed to have it all. Emily Gomez, his sister, described him as funny, kind, successful and driven. She never knew he was struggling with mental health concerns at all until he committed suicide in September 2022.

“It was the biggest shock of our lives,” she said. “He was so happy and joyful and one of the funniest people you’ll ever meet. He just played it off so well; he seemed so put together.”

Jorge Gomez was 13 years older than Emily Gomez, so she regarded him almost like a father figure as she was growing up. One of her favorite songs, “You’re Gonna Go Far” by Noah Kahan has a line it that says “you’re the greatest thing we’ve lost,” and she always thinks of that line when she thinks about her brother’s death.

“We were very close, and he was just so loving with me,” she said. “He was such a good brother.”

Emily Gomez and her family are not alone in their grief. In 2023 alone, 49,000 people died by suicide in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is one death every 11 minutes.

Each death affects the health and well-being of surviving family, friends, neighbors and the greater community. When people die by suicide, the people around them often experience a range of difficult emotions, like anger and guilt, and may even have thoughts of suicide themselves.

Michelle Rispoli, director of the Saline Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health Unit, said no one should feel they have to carry guilt over a loved one’s suicide, and that help is available for those struggling with this type of loss.

“There is no way to fully understand what people are thinking and what they are coping with,” Rispoli said. “Sometimes tragedies happen that are beyond our control, and even if we would have done or said something different, it may not have changed the outcome.”

However, knowing the signs and risk factors can help communities work together to reduce the prevalence of suicide, she said. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), some of the most recognizable signs of potential suicide include the following:

• Drastic changes in behavior or exhibiting entirely new behaviors
• Comments about killing themselves, feeling hopeless, having no reason to live, being a burden to others, feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain
• Increased use of alcohol and drugs
• Withdrawing from activities or isolating from family and friends
• Sleeping too much or too little, often causing extreme fatigue and/or aggression
• Giving away prized possessions and other impulsive behavior
• Looking for a way to end their life, such as searching for suicide methods online

While risk factors vary, there are some common traits among individuals who fall victim to suicide. They include the following:

• A family history of suicide or other serious mental health conditions, like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and more
• Substance abuse
• Access to lethal means, including firearms and drugs
• Serious or chronic health conditions, especially those that cause extreme physical pain
• A history of childhood neglect, trauma or abuse
• Gender (more women attempt suicide, but men are four times more likely to die from their attempt)
• Age (those younger than 24 years old and older than 65 years old are at higher risk);
• Isolation and/or agitation
• Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems or unemployment
• A recent tragedy, loss or stressful event, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis or other major life transitions

In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, the hospital is hosting a lighting ceremony on the Saline Memorial Hospital Facebook page at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29. Community members can submit the names of loved ones who have been lost due to suicide at SalineMemorial.org/Luminary by Monday, Sept. 22, for inclusion in the ceremony. 

Saline Memorial Hospital provides many behavioral health services, including individual therapy, medication management and group counseling. Additional information is available at SalineMemorial.org/Behavioral-Health or via phone at 501.776.6600 or 501.776.6643. Free and confidential emotional support is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to those in suicidal crisis or extreme emotional distress by calling the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8.

“If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health condition, like depression, or exhibiting these warning signs and risk factors, please seek help immediately,” Rispoli said. “Our hope is that anyone struggling with depression, or any other form of mental illness, knows that it’s okay to seek help, and we’re here whenever they need us.”

About Saline Memorial Hospital