Help for the holidays

Nonprofit group dedicated to suicide prevention and helping families move on

When 16-year-old Brittany Kish committed suicide in Clark County's Juvenile Detention Center on April 11, 2005, her mother, Lynette Kish, wasn't there to deal with the situation.

If her daughter had taken her life at home rather than in county custody, Kish would have been faced with a horrifying prospect -- cleaning up after Brittany's death.

It's a situation that Las Vegas resident Matthew Dovel, founder and president of the nonprofit organization International Suicide Prevention, Inc., has volunteered to deal with time after time. In addition to offering suicide prevention information, his organization helps those who have lost a family member to suicide deal with the aftermath and continue with their lives.

Dovel said ISP's mission is to educate the public about suicide awareness and prevention. The nonprofit also provides support to friends and family members of suicides by helping cover the costs of suicide scene clean up and temporary housing while clean up is underway.

"After a suicide, only family members or certified personnel are legally allowed to clean up," a suicide scene, Dovel said. Witnessing and cleaning up that sort of scene can cause extreme guilt and distress, which can perpetuate the cycle of suicide, he said.

"Eighty percent of in-house suicides are cleaned up by a family member," he said. "It is a horrific thing to have to clean up. It can really mentally affect people to have to see their loved one like that."

On average, it costs about $1,500 to have a suicide scene cleaned up, Dovel said. ISP helps pay those costs up to $10,000, and helps provide lodging at a hotel while clean up is underway and pays for counseling for family members.

"We also try to help with bills and that sort of thing, especially if money was part of the problem," he said.

Dovel also will go to the scene of a suicide to lend emotional support to friends and family members.

"The scene of a suicide isn't Hollywood, it's not glamorous," he said. "It's grotesque. Just seeing it is enough to disturb anyone."

Kish agreed with the need for services offered by ISP.

"Brittany did it in juvenile hall, so I didn't find her. I can't even imagine what parents or family members are going through if they've found that," Kish said. "(Dovel) deals with that, and thank God."

Kish said she had visited Dovel's Web site repeatedly during the past year, though she only contacted him about two months ago.

"I've always thought he was doing wonderful things," she said.

Kish organized an Out of the Darkness walk through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on Dec. 2, and invited Dovel to speak during the event.

"He's a great guy and he's trying to make a big difference," she said. "I like the way he goes about what he does ... suicide is something people don't want to talk about because it is depressing, it is bad, but at the same time ... it needs to be talked about."

Kish said she finds it important that Dovel tries to make suicide awareness and prevention events educational .

"That's what it should be about. The subject is so controversial, so stigmatized ... at the same time, you can't just focus on (how) it's so sad," she said. "His biggest thing is about (how) you're not alone. About hope, about there's someone there for you. You're worth something and don't ever forget that. That's where he kind of goes, and I think it's kind of cool."

Dovel said two near-death experiences inspired him to become involved with suicide prevention. When he was 12, he drowned in a neighbor's pool but was revived.

In his teens, Dovel developed drug and alcohol addictions, and attempted suicide in 1987.

"At that point I quit drugs cold turkey, and I've been off them for 19-plus years," he said. "Now I've dedicated my life to helping people get off drugs and to preventing suicide."

In 2003, Dovel published his autobiography, "My Last Breath," and since then, he has worked as a suicide prevention expert. In addition to starting ISP, Dovel has worked with the military, American Indian tribes and local schools teaching suicide prevention, and also works as a public speaker and life coach.

Eventually, Dovel's suicide prevention efforts became a financial strain and he decided to form ISP. In June, the group received nonprofit status and is sustained almost entirely by a network of volunteers.

Dovel said there is an average of one suicide per day in the Las Vegas Valley, though he said that number is about average compared to similar sized cities.

Through ISP, Dovel also gives lectures and talks, and leads classes at local high schools to discuss suicide prevention. ISP also is working on a positive mental health campaign expected to begin in January.

"We're getting a license plate with the message 'Never Give Up,' and we're going to place signs along roads with similar, uplifting messages," he said. "Driving around in heavy traffic can be stressful, and the signs and license plates will be a positive message. It's part of our campaign to lower stress levels in general."

The organization's Web site also provides information and tips regarding suicide and suicide prevention.

"They're basically simple suggestions for leading a good life," he said. "Eating well, spending time with friends and family and talking to them and having a goal list for your life, whether you're young or old are all important things."

Dovel suggests everyone should keep a list of at least five goals they are working toward, and a list of 20 things that make them happy.

"Even if it's just something like the taste of vanilla ice cream, it's something to look at when you're feeling down and it helps you get something happy in mind," he said. "If you're depressed, you need to read that list every day."

In the future, Dovel hopes to establish programs like the one he teaches in local high schools for distribution on a national level, as well as programs for the elderly in conjunction with local hospitals. He also is hoping to begin work on a documentary aimed at examining suicide on a global level.

In the meantime, he's working on expanding local prevention efforts and getting more volunteers and donations for ISP.

For Kish, simply bringing attention to the reality of suicide is Dovel's greatest accomplishment.

"That's how I think he's saving lives, is getting the word out there, period," she said.

For more information about suicide prevention and ISP, visit www.supportisp.com.