Suicide Prevention Week - September 9th - 15th, 2012

This week is Suicide Prevention Week.

I met someone a few years ago who had committed suicide. I won't share the story because I don't want to tell it without those involved knowing I am writing of it. I will say that it was a horrible tragedy and affected MANY people. I barely knew her and it affected me. She had a history of being depressed. Research has consistently shown a strong link between suicide and depression, with 90% of the people who die by suicide having an existing mental illness or substance abuse problem at the time of their death.


Here are some Suicide Facts:
-Suicide takes the lives of nearly 30,000 Americans every year.
-Many who attempt suicide never seek professional care.
-There are twice as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS.
-Between 1952 and 1995, suicide in young adults nearly tripled.
-Over half of all suicides occur in adult men, ages 25-65.
- Suicide rates in the United States are highest in the spring.
-Over half of all suicides are completed with a firearm.
- 80% of people that seek treatment for depression are treated successfully.
-15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide.
-There are an estimated 8 to 25 attempted suicides to 1 completion.
-The highest suicide rate is among men over 85 years old: 65 per 100,000 persons.
-1 in 65,000 children ages 10 to 14 commit suicide each year.

Here are some Warning Signs:
-Talking about wanting to die or kill oneself
-Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun.
-Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
-Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
-Talking about being a burden to others.
-Increased alcohol and drug abuse.
-Acting anxious or agitated, behaving wrecklessly.
-Sleeping too little or too much.
-Withdrawn or feeling isolated.
-Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
-Displaying extreme mood swings.
-Preoccupied with death.
-Loss of interest in things they use to care about.
-Visiting or calling people to say goodbye.
-Making arrangements for getting their "affairs" in order.


IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE IN NEED OF HELP OR
IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS AND
NEED IMMEDIATE HELP,
please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

OTHER NUMBERS TO CALL:

Mental Health America	703-684-7722
Anxiety Disorders Association of America	301-231-9350
American Psychological Association	202-336-5500
American Psychiatric Association	202-682-6000
National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association	312-642-0049
National Alliance on Mental Illness	703-524-7600

Here are more of my blog posts related to this topic:
(there are helpful links in each post)
Mental Health Awareness Month
Signs of Suicidal Behavior