Over many years suicide has become a big problem in the world becoming the 2nd most leading cause of death in the united states and in order to make the rates go down then people need to be their for each other and listen to one another so that their can be more people living healthy and happily both physically mentally.
If you notice a loved one or even an acquaintance or colleague exhibiting any of these signs, you are not powerless to be able to help them. Please do not hesitate to help and comfort them. Ask them what they feel most comfortable doing, whether it is potentially calling a crisis hotline or scheduling any counseling or doctor appointments that can help this person.
Be concerned if someone you know:
Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S
Everyday approximately 125 Americans die by suicide
There is one suicidal death in the U.S every 11.5 minutes
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year old Americans
Their is one suicide death for every estimated 25 suicide attempts
There are approximately 1,149,475 annual attempts in the U.S
One male dies by suicide every 14.4 minutes
One female dies by suicide every 55.9 minutes
Older adults made up 16.9% of the 2020 population but 19.9% of the suicides
Young people made up 12.9% of 2020 population and 13.2% of suicides
Suicide is something that effects everyone all around the world at different ages
Reasons people commit suicide
Abuse as as child, being bullied, sexual violence, mental health problems, discrimination, the end of a relationship, money problems, housing problems, feeling isolated, feeling inadequate, doubts about gender or identity, cultural pressure
A person may decide to take their own life when facing a loss or the fear of a loss. These situations can include:
A number of factors can put an individual at a higher risk for suicide in the short term. These include:
Myth: People who talk about suicide won’t really do it.
Fact: Almost everyone who attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Don’t ignore even indirect references to death or suicide
Myth: Anyone who tries to kill themselves must be crazy.
Fact: Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They are upset, grief-stricken, depressed, or despairing
Myth: If someone is determined to kill themselves, nothing is going to stop them.
Fact: Even a very severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, fluctuating between wanting to live and wanting to die.
Myth: People who die by suicide are people who were unwilling to seek help.
Fact: Many people try to get help before attempting suicide.
Myth: Talking about suicide may give someone the idea
Fact: You don’t give someone suicidal ideas by talking about suicide. Rather, the opposite is true. Talking openly and honestly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can help save a life.
"I'm the mother of a toddler who died of cancer. There is nothing anyone could do to prevent me from killing myself- besides listening and being present. I didn't reach out to anyone. Being suicidal means you want to die- no one could have talked me out of it. My family knew I was struggling and they took shifts watching me. They bought me my favorite foods, watched Ru Paul's Drag Race with me for weeks (seriously.. for some reason it was the only thing I could watch.) They listened to me cry and didn't try to give me solutions. They just said "I know". We had a code word- potato. If I said potato, that meant that I needed someone to be physically present with me.. quickly. There was always a plan for the next day- 'Tomorrow we're going to have lunch at that Mexican place, ok?' 'Tomorrow let's look for a special garden marker for Miles.' I think that was a big part of it- having a plan for the next day meant I had to keep going. It's been almost four months since my 3 year old died and I'm still living."
"I attempted suicide at 19. I think the hardest thing for non-suicidal people to understand is that a lot of suicidal people don't want to kill themselves, they just want to stop existing. Actually going through the steps of writing a note and taking the pills was extremely difficult and all I kept thinking the whole time was that it would be so much easier if I could just fall asleep and never wake up. It was scary to think that I was potentially killing myself whereas a death I couldn't control or had less control over would just…happen. Then there's everyone and everything else to consider. I also have caught myself wishing many times that the whole world would end so that I could stop existing but then neither myself nor my loved ones would have to deal with the pain or miss out on a good life .I found those things really hard to articulate at 19. It's how a lot of depressed people feel."
"When I was a teenager I had bad problems with depression and anxiety that led to very self-destructive behavior. There were many times I imagined killing myself and one night I was set on doing it. Came home drunk and sad and started cutting myself, which was one of my methods for dealing with my emotions. I sat in my bed crying, trying to find the courage to cut deeper and end it. Then my dog Snoopy hopped up on the bed and put his head on my lap. Thanks to him I realized that I just couldn't do that to him or to my parents and friends. He saved my life that night. The next day I decided to open up to my parents and ask them to help me find some help, which was a huge step forward. Sometimes all it takes is a reminder that someone loves you to help you start trying to l
ove yourself."
Call at 988 or text
Chat at 988lifeline.org
Suicide Prevention | Suicide | CDC
SAVE: Suicide Prevention, Information, and Awareness
Why Do People Commit Suicide? 6 Suicide FAQs (healthline.com)
Why Do People Commit Suicide? (verywellmind.com)
Suicide Stories: 20 People Reveal What Stopped Them (bestlifeonline.com)
8 common myths about suicide - Mayo Clinic Health System