You are not alone: The story of how 988 saved Ruth Escamilla’s life

Ruth Escamilla, a woman of Hispanic descent, was suffering from depression and didn’t understand what was happening to her. She didn’t know why she felt sad, overwhelmed and lost.

When Ruth was only 10 months old, her family moved from El Salvador to the United States. Ruth grew up in this country and was happy until she was 16 years old, that’s when she began to feel something wasn’t quite right.

After many years of living with depression without realizing it, things got so bad for Ruth that she attempted to take her own life at 25, while pregnant. She now shares the story of her struggle and how she managed to move forward with the help of 988.

Ruth Escamilla’s story

For Ruth, overall life seemed good despite the drama and problems in her daily life. For the most part she wasn’t overly anxious or emotional.

At that time, she didn’t know she had mental health issues. When she became pregnant with her first child, things suddenly got worse.

Seemingly out of nowhere, she couldn’t control her emotions. She was sad, cried a lot, and nothing felt right. It became so overwhelming that she attempted suicide because she didn’t want to feel the pain anymore.

She didn’t understand what was happening to her. She simply felt like crying and didn’t know why. All she knew was that she no longer wanted to live and that’s what led her to attempt suicide.

They want the pain to stop

Dr. Pierluigi Mancini, president of the Multicultural Development Institute, says, «One of the realities that those who have survived a suicide attempt tell us is that they didn’t want to die.»

«What they wanted was for the pain to stop. They were at a level of emotional pain where they saw no other way out.»

The specialist offers advice for listening: «Support the person. Listen. Let them talk. Many times, someone is venting, and we want to immediately give them the answer.»

«We have to stop doing that. We have to let the person vent. When they stop talking, then we can lend our voice. We can even say things like, ‘I understand,’ ‘I am listening to you. I am here.'»

Ruth felt alone

Ruth felt alone, something often heard from people experiencing extreme sadness. She didn’t know who to talk to.

However, she still held out hope. When she finally sought help from her family no one judged her and no one stigmatized her for what she was going through.

In cases like this, Dr. Mancini says that family and friends are a fundamental support system. They are the ones who can provide a lifeline and who can make a difference when their loved one is in crisis.

Love was one of the key elements that, according to Ruth, helped her overcome her depression. The understanding she received from her loved ones made all the difference.

The taboo of mental illness in Latino culture

Ruth doesn’t doubt her family loves her but admits that mental health issues are not commonly discussed among Latinos.

That’s why many people don’t know how to help when a friend or family member is suffering, or how to react to certain situations.

The stigma surrounding mental illness and lack of accessible information for addressing it is still an issue in many cultures.

Ruth’s doctor was concerned for her and her family, and that’s when she told her about the 988 hotline and how they could help her.

Reaching out to the 988 hotline

The 988 hotline helped Ruth tremendously, as they were able to guide her and provide the necessary tools to help her understand what was happening. They also connected her with experts.

She felt understood by the people she spoke with, and they also gave her the confidence to talk about everything she was feeling. That makes all the difference when a person is confused and struggling.

This helpline also determines if callers are able to seek help on their own or if professional intervention is necessary.

The intervention provided by 988 proved invaluable to Ruth, offering both guidance and essential resources to comprehend her circumstances.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

The doctor urges us not to be afraid to ask a loved one if everything is okay or  if they have thoughts of harming themselves. This may be the only way we will know if they need help.

In conclusion, Ruth says there is hope, and that there is a way to overcome your emotional distress. Although it may not be a topic that is discussed in your culture, there are tools to help you recover.

There are people who care and want to listen to  you. You are not alone. Today, she feels loved, feels like she belongs and feels her life has a purpose.

Please reach out if you are suffering. Remember that you are not alone. We want to help you. Know that there are people who love you. By calling the 988 hotline, you will find a support network that will help you move forward.