nation suicide awareness week
- lxrynwxtring
- Sep 10, 2022
- 7 min read
9/10/22
this week was national suicide prevention week. while this may be the last day of this prevention week, the whole month is actually dedicated to it!
it is not too late to show support for some going through a tough time. and it doesn't have to be a certain month for you to show someone you care about them. while you should be kind all year round, this month is an extra opportunity to reach out to those who might need it.
so let's talk about suicide. I have gathered some information from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in America
in 2020, there were 45,979 deaths as a result of suicide
in the same year, there were over 1.2 million suicide attempts
additional facts about suicide:
the rate of suicide is highest among middle aged white men
on average there are 130 suicides per day
in 2020, guns accounted for over 50% of suicides
93% of survey adults believe that suicide can be prevented
suicidal thoughts and actions are something that can happen to anyone. thoughts of self-harm or hurting oneself beyond repair can happen in any age group, gender, religion, race, etc. suicide occurs in all demographics.
while there is no true number of suicide attempts in the United States (because it's hard to account for every incident), in 2015 there were nearly 600,000 hospital records for admission from injuries related to self-harm.
AFSP had a really interesting list of facts that I'd like to dive into a little deeper to:
Top 10 things we've learned from research
Suicide is related to brain functions that affect decision-making and behavioral control, making it difficult for people to find positive solutions
when someone is having active thoughts of self-harm or suicide, these are most likely not new thoughts. these are feelings, thoughts, and emotions that have been persisting for weeks, months, or even years. when someone is considering suicide, it's typically based upon consideration and a last resort. this isn't something that is an immediate result, it is something that has been ruminated and thought about for a long time.
suicide isn't something that is "wrong." those who commit suicide feel as if they are better off being gone. they feel as if they are a burden to those around them. the pain that they are dealing with is becoming too much to handle. there are a number of reasons something either considers or goes through with suicide.
2. Limiting a person’s access to methods of killing themselves dramatically decreases suicide rates in communities
it's an extremely hard subject to talk about, especially if you've lost someone close or dealt with attempts yourself, but if we reduce the methods those in active suicidal thoughts, it would decrease the amount of attempts. first, the most harmful object used in suicide, guns. if we were to limit the access to guns, it would significantly decrease the amount of deaths by them through suicide. access to other methods such as sharp objects, medication, etc. cannot be completely eliminated, but would definitely result in fewer attempts with less access.
3. Ninety percent of people who die by suicide have an underlying — and potentially treatable — mental health condition
many mental health conditions can take a toll on the individual. anxiety and depression are exhausting diagnoses to maintain and can often become unbearable for the individual. mental health conditions are the reason majority of individuals consider or attempt suicide. finding the proper treatment and support is key when having a mental health condition diagnosis, even if you don't think you "need" it. eventually you will be thankful for the support system and proper treatment.
4. Depression, bipolar disorder, and substance use are strongly linked to suicidal thinking and behavior
while all mental health disorders can be reasoning behind suicide, some can be worse than others. depression probably being the number one. feelings of hopelessness can only linger for so long before the individual has become numb to them and no longer wants to deal with them. all mental health disorders are difficult and can lead to thoughts/actions that can be deadly.
5. Specific treatments used by mental health professionals — such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy-SP and Dialectical Behavior Therapy — have been proven to help people manage their suicidal ideation and behavior
therapy is a significant reducing factor in self-harm and suicide. while most people believe something has to be "wrong" for you to be in therapy, that's not true. anyone can seek help from a therapist regardless if they have a medical diagnosis or not. therapy is for everyone and is healthy no matter what circumstance you may be in. but it is especially helpful when someone is going through a hard time to have a professional there to help.
6. No one takes their life for a single reason. Life stresses combined with known risk factors, such as childhood trauma, substance use — or even chronic physical pain — can contribute to someone taking their life
like I mentioned before, suicide isn't an immediate decisions. most of the time suicide is considered over a period of time and often a back and forth concept until the individual reaches a point where they don't want to go back anymore. each person's reasoning will always be different from the next. this is why it's important to reach out to friends and family and be there for them, no matter what they may be going through.
7. Asking someone directly if they’re thinking about suicide won’t “put the idea in their head” — most will be relieved someone starts a conversation
if you're worried about someone, just mentioning suicide isn't going to make them attempt sooner or later. but starting that conversation might just save them. being open and honest with those around you (whether or not they're suicidal) is the best way to show support. typically those considering think that they are alone and that no one cares about if they're alive or dead. but showing those people that you are there for them might just be the reason they decide to live.
8. Certain medications used to treat depression or stabilize mood have been proven to help people reduce suicidal thoughts and behavior
because depression is one of the leading mental health conditions related to suicide, it would make sense that the treatment of the condition would lessen thoughts and behaviors of suicide. this is why it's important to get the help you need before it's too late. there are doctors out there that want to help you, it's their job to help you, they want to see you get better. this is why it's important to voice you emotions and thoughts, so they can properly help you.
9. If someone can get through the intense, and short, moment of active suicidal crisis, chances are they will not die by suicide
a beneficial aspect of getting help is the suicide hotline. this hotline is available 24/7 to those experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions or is around someone else who may be attempting. this hotline can walk you through way to get help and not follow through with something that you might regret. but having that voice of reasoning through the crisis that you're experiencing can be a saving grace.
10. Most people who survive a suicide attempt (85 to 95 percent) go on to engage in life
most people who survive their suicide attempts realize that it's something they didn't truly want. if they live, they are often given support because people realized what they were going through and didn't actually voice. that's why speaking up is important. at times it can be hard to hear, but if no one knows what you're truly going for, how are they supposed to help?
things to remember this month (and every month):
suicide is not selfish, it is a final collapse under unbearable weight
if you know someone who is suicidal, take them seriously--it could save their life
someone could look like the happiest person in the world but still be suicidal
ways to help someone going through suicidal thoughts/attempts:
recognize the warning signs: changes in mood or behavior, becoming withdrawn, increased feelings of depression, anxiety, losing interest, and making statements about suicide like "I just want to go to sleep and never wake up."
reach out and ask "are you doing okay?": because of the nature of depression and suicidal thoughts, most aren't likely to reach out for help. showing support and care during these tough times might make someone reconsider suicide, reducing isolation.
be direct: ask the individual if they are having thoughts of suicide. this opens up the conversation without them having to bring it up. it's more helpful than you would think.
assess risk and don't panic: thankfully not all suicidal thoughts are emergent. but it's important to remain calm and not to blow things out of proportion. more people experience thoughts of suicide than those who actually go through with them.
if it's a crisis, stick around: if someone is confiding in you that they are going to attempt, don't take it lightly. usually these intense emotions lessen within 24 to 48 hours. remain present if you're about or contact someone that can offer them the proper help. do not leave them alone.
listen and offer hope: the best way to help is to be openminded and non-judgmental. don't actively tell them what to do, offer ways to get through this time and support them with whatever they may need.
help your loved one make a safety plan: preventing future crisis is the best way to prepare for them. developing coping strategies to use when the crisis comes can often help it be averted. here's a template to help you create one: https://www.mysafetyplan.org
help them tackle the mental health care system: when someone is go through a crisis things can often become more difficult and confusing. help them contact a professional before crisis begins to see if there are medications or helpful ways to reduce crisis. offer to help them get an appointment and go with them to it.
explore tools and support online: there are some evidence-based tools to help those with suicidal thoughts or actions: smartphone app called Virtual Hope Box that is similar to CBT techniques, website called Now Matters Now that offers survivor stories and ways to help those struggling, and a simple search of activities to reduce those consuming thoughts.
(this list is provided from NPR. to listen to the full podcast, click here: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/20/707686101/how-to-help-someone-at-risk-of-suicide)
remember, it's not just this month that we need to be considering those who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts or actions. always check in with your friends and family, even if you don't think they're struggling.
use this week's blog as a reference to help someone you might know that needs it. it's better to offer help when it's unnecessary than to be offering it when it's too late.
if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or attempts, please know that you are not alone. there are many resources available to you if you need them. if it's an emergency, please dial 911 or the national suicide hotline at 988.
remember, you deserve to be here.
I'll see you guys in the next one!
xx Loryn
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