As many of you may already know, September is Suicide Prevention Month. While this awareness month is near to my heart for personal reasons that I’ll probably explore in another post, I’m also writing about it to raise awareness about how we can help others in need.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every 11 minutes, a life is lost to suicide. Suicide is a leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 64 in the United States, ending nearly 50,000 lives EACH YEAR. In fact, more lives are lost to suicide each year than by motor vehicle crashes.
It may also be surprising that half of those who die by suicide don’t have a known mental health diagnosis. Suicide truly affects people of all ages, across all communities, inside and outside of the therapy office.
It’s also important to note that while suicide can affect anyone, some groups are more at risk. By race and ethnicity, the groups with the highest rates are non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people, followed by non-Hispanic White people. Other people in the United States with higher-than-average rates of suicide are veterans, those who live in rural areas, and workers in certain industries and occupations like mining and construction. Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual have a higher prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behavior compared to their peers who identify as heterosexual.
Fortunately, suicide is preventable. Despite all the odds, hope is possible. And everyone can play a role to save a life—even if it’s yours.
Various organizations like CDC, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), and many others have resources to help those suffering in silence or to help a loved one in need. A common misconception is that if you talk to someone about their suicidal thoughts, it’ll make them more likely to carry out the act. However, the reality can be quite the opposite. Talking about the issue openly can actually be a positive. Talking creates a safe space for your loved one to open up, express their emotions, and provide an opportunity for you to connect them with help.
As a loved one of someone who may be suicidal, one of the most important things you can do is to recognize the warning signs. While the following isn’t exhaustive, and someone may not show all these behaviors, experts recommend it as a helpful place to start.
The behaviors listed below may be some of the signs that someone is thinking about suicide.
Talking about:
- Wanting to die
- Great guilt or shame
- Being a burden to others
Feeling:
- Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
- Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage
- Unbearable emotional or physical pain
Changing behavior, such as:
- Making a plan or researching ways to die
- Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will
- Taking dangerous risks, such as driving extremely fast
- Displaying extreme mood swings
- Eating or sleeping more or less
- Using drugs or alcohol more often
If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.
- Visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Call or text “988”
- Chat at 988lifeline.org
In addition to being aware of the warning signs, there are a few trainings you can take to better prepare yourself to connect your loved ones to support. I’ll do a Part 2 of this blog that does a deeper dive on Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), and a few other helpful trainings. Note, any applied learnings from a training are not a substitute for a loved one receiving a professional mental health intervention or therapy.
I hope this information increased your suicide prevention awareness and you learned something new. As we move throughout the year, remember the suicide warning signs and be the best mental health advocate you can—you never know when someone may be in need.
Until next time,
Get well. Be well. Stay well.
Lauren ♥