Truth...about suicide.
- More than 31,000 Americans die by suicide each year.
- Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-old Americans and 11th overall.
- There is 1 suicide every 16 minutes and 88 suicides per day.
- For every US suicide death there are 8 to 26 attempts.
- There are an estimated 1.4 million attempts per year in the U.S.
- For every suicide death there are an estimated six new survivors.
- Suicide deaths consistently outnumber homicide deaths by a margin of three to two.
- There are more suicides globally than deaths from war and violence combined.
- Approximately twice as many Americans die by suicides than from HIV/AIDS.
- Compared to the rest of the world, the United States has a moderately high suicide rate. However, eastern European countries currently have the highest rates of suicide in the world.
- More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have depression or another diagnosable mental or substance abuse disorder.
- In a national poll, 78 percent of Americans think that many suicides are preventable with appropriate research, interventions and services.
(sources: SPAN & the CDC)
The Myths
- People who talk about suicide never attempt or complete suicide.
- Ask if they have made a suicide a attempt
- Ask if they have a plan (often this shows how close they are to completing a suicide attempt)
- Encourage the young person to develop a personal safety plan. This can include time spent with others, check-in points with significant adults, plans for the future.
- Attempted or completed suicides happen without warning.
- The recent suicide, or death by other means, of a friend or relative.
- Previous suicide attempts.
- Preoccupation with themes of death or expressing suicidal thoughts.
- Depression, conduct disorder or problems with adjustment such as substance abuse (particularly when two or more of these are present).
- Giving away of prized possessions, making a will or other final arrangements.
- Major changes in sleep patterns- too much or too little.
- Sudden and extreme changes in eating habits, losing or gaining weight.
- Withdrawal from friends/family or other major behavioral changes.
- Dropping out of group activities.
- Personality changes such as nervousness, outbursts of anger, impulsive or reckless behavior, or apathy about appearance or health.
- Frequent irritability or unexplained crying.
- Lingering expressions of unworthiness or failure.
- Lack of interest in the future.
- IMPORTANT:A sudden lifting of spirits, when there have been other indicators, may point to a decision to end the pain of life through suicide.
Often this is a plea for help, they are showing late signs towards a suicide attempt. You can help!
Ask them the tough questions:
The survivors of a suicide often say that the intention was hidden, however it is more likely that the intention was not recognized. These warning signs include: