Having a conversation about suicide can be difficult. In general, talking about mental health can be very hard, awkward, and can feel inappropriate.
But, it is so important.
Opening the door to this conversation can literally save a life. As a society, we often shy away from these tough conversations. We need to stop avoiding these personal topics, and do better at initiating conversations about mental health and suicide.
September is a great chance to be more purposeful in these discussions because it is National Suicide Prevention Month. This month is an opportunity to become more educated, have the hard conversations, and encourage those around you to get professional help.
Statistics Surrounding Suicide
Let’s break this down a little bit by looking through some alarming stats about suicide. These statistics are important to bring attention to because they help demonstrate just how prevalent it is in our society. It is essential to try and educate yourself, your friends, and those around you, so you are aware and able to help. Most of us will be affected by suicide at some point, so educating yourself and those around you is imperative.
- In 2019, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the United States (CDC)
- In teenagers and young adults (10-34), suicide is the second leading cause of death In middle-aged adults (35-44), suicide is the fourth leading cause of death (CDC)
- In 2019, there were more than double the amount of suicides (47,511) as there were homicides (19,141) (CDC)
- Every day there are about 130 Americans that die from suicide (CDC)
- For every suicide, there are 25 suicide attempts (CDC)
Suicide is not just a problem within America. It is prevalent all around the world.
- Every year, about 700,000 people die from suicide. That equals one about every 40 seconds. (WHO)
- Throughout the world, in teenagers (15-19 years old), suicide is the fourth leading cause of death (WHO)
How Getting Treatment Helps Manage Suicidal Thoughts
When you are in the thick of depression, mental illness, and severe anxiety, it can seem like all is hopeless.
This is not true.
Receiving professional help does increase your mental wellbeing and decreases the risk of suicide. 80-90% of people who seek help and receive professional treatment see improvements in their mental health (CDC).
This treatment helps people learn to manage their emotions and sort through their thoughts. Psychologists, counselors, and other professionals have been trained to deal with suicide prevention and can help you cope with your mental illness.
Receiving this professional help makes a difference. It can help you rediscover that there is hope. It opens the door to conversations, receiving medications and helps rekindle a desire to live.
Professional help can also teach you to identify those undesirable thoughts. You can learn to recognize them, challenge them, and then change them. Identifying and challenging these negative automatic thoughts is a huge step in treating suicidal thoughts.
While the cause of suicidal thoughts is not totally understood, certain risk factors increase the risk of experiencing these thoughts. To learn more about suicidal thoughts, check out this article about common causes of suicidal thoughts.
If you or someone you know needs help, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask. There are people who want to help, who can help, and who will make a difference in your life.
Signs of Suicide
Understanding the signs of suicide and knowing what to watch for can help you better care for your loved ones or yourself.
The most significant risk factor that indicates a heightened risk of suicide is a previous attempt at suicide (WHO). Having hard conversations with those around you, being aware of them, and offering them hope is imperative. Being aware of this risk factor will help you more effectively watch over those around you.
There are signs of suicide, and then there are risk factors of suicide. Risk factors include things that could increase the chance of someone attempting suicide. Risk factors include (but aren’t limited to):
- Preexisting mental health challenges
- Chronic disease
- Family history of suicide
- Abuse
- Large, stressful changes
- Substance abuse
- Access to lethal substances
Signs of suicide differ from risk factors of suicide, but they are equally as important to understand. If you see these signs in people around you, don’t hesitate to have a trusting conversation with them. Or refer them to someone who can have this difficult conversation. There are resources, people, and helplines available 24/7 that are there to help you and those you love.
A couple of the most common signs of suicide that you should be aware of and recognize are:
- Talking about wanting to die
- Saying goodbye to friends and family
- Giving away important possessions
- Talking about feeling hopeless
- Mentioning a desire to give up
- Phrases like “the world would be better without me,” “I’m a burden.”
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Drastic changes in activities
National Resources
There are many fantastic resources to encourage positive mental health. These resources can help you and the people around you get the help they deserve.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. They are there to help. These resources are available 24/7 and consist of trained professionals who know how to help.
Utilizing this resource doesn’t only apply to a person contemplating suicide. If you know of someone considering taking their own life, they can help you understand what to say and how to help them. The National Suicide Lifeline is a fantastic resource that everyone should take advantage of.
800-273-8255
If calling is intimidating, they even have a chat feature where you can “text” with a counselor.
If all of this is overwhelming, Alvarado Parkway has a 24-hour inquiry and support line. Please contact us so we can help you.
(619)333-7050
How to Start Your Mental Health Journey
Starting your mental health journey is often one of the hardest parts. Putting one foot in front of the other and taking that first step can be difficult, vulnerable, and it can feel like it shows weakness.
In reality, asking for help when you need it is a sign of strength that would help many people worldwide.
The first step to starting your mental health journey is recognizing that you want to change. You want to change your thoughts, your mentality, and your perspective. Acknowledging that there is something that you should change allows you to move forward.
The next step is asking for help. Often, to make the changes you desire requires asking for help. Asking for help feels very vulnerable and scary, but it is imperative to create lasting change. Asking is an essential first step in your mental health journey because it allows you to keep moving forward.
Everyone’s mental health journey is different. Everyone is struggling somehow, so remembering that asking for help is a sign of strength will help you progress on this journey.
What You Can Do To Help
Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear-cut answer to preventing suicide. But, there are some things that you can do to help prevent suicide in yourself and those around you.
- Educate Yourself: By learning the risk factors and signs of suicide, you can put yourself in a better position to make a difference. Education about mental health allows you to be more prepared when suicide does show up in someone around you. There is so much to know that it can be intimidating. Just start; you never know when your knowledge will help save a life.
- Check-in With Loved Ones: Having an honest conversation with the people you love is so underestimated. Even something as simple as asking someone how they are doing and encouraging them to give you an honest response can make a difference. Ask them, and then listen to what they have to say.
- Talk About Mental Health Openly: Too often, people who suffer from mental illness feel marginalized, weak, and judged. This is not okay. We need to do better by encouraging people to talk about mental illness and, as a society, view it as an illness. People are fighting real battles, and it is okay to talk about it.
We need each other. You are not alone. The world is better with you in it, and you are so loved.
Never hesitate to contact us so we can offer you support as you go through this journey.
For more ideas on what you can do, check out this article.
