There are over 30,000 suicides in the United States every year, making it the 10th leading cause of death for Americans (3rd among youth and 2nd among college students). We lose someone to suicide every 13 minutes, and 60% of us will personally know someone who dies by suicide.
It is important to remember that suicide ‘works’ on some level, in that it provides a solution to intense personal pain. Acceptance of this fact is an important first step in understanding why anyone would consider ending his or her life and in trying to help.
While it is a common myth of suicide that people who talk about suicide don’t actually do it and those who commit suicide rarely tell anyone, 75% of people give some warning of their intentions to others before they act.
Some common warning signs: isolation or withdrawal; depression and sadness; loss of energy; deterioration in daily living skills/self care; decreased school/work attendance or performance; reading books about suicide or death; increased use of drugs or alcohol; atypical speech patterns; feelings of hopelessness, helplessness or worthlessness; trouble concentrating or slowed thinking; preoccupation with death in movies; giving away prized possessions; writing about suicide; increased hostility and defensiveness; changes in eating, sleeping or weight; disinterest in making future plans; neglect of personal appearance; euphoria or a calm, certain attitude; loss of interest or pleasure, self-defeating statements, and references to or jokes about being dead.
Most suicidal individuals want to live but cannot see alternative solutions to their problems. Their pain is exceeding their coping strategies. A key step is helping them realize that the emotional pain will end and that things will get better.
Some of the most alarming suicide statistics are those related to adolescents. Suicide accounts for 13% of adolescent deaths. An estimated 3500 adolescents attempt suicide every day, and 35 of them die. Most adolescent suicides occur in the home. And one study found that 83.3% of adolescent suicide completers had made suicidal threats to others in the week prior to their death.
GLBTQ high schoolers, who account for an estimated 4-9% of the high school population, are 3-4 times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers. Additionally,
• GLBTQ adolescents are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol at a young age, partially for ‘self-medication’ purposes to help cope with victimization, homophobia, violence, and discrimination.
• 2 out of 5 GLBTQ teens do not feel safe at school
• 91% hear homophobic remarks at school
• 38% do not feel comfortable talking to school staff about GLBTQ issues
• 69% experience harassment or violence
• They have an increased risk of fighting and school dropout
• Only 1 in 5 GLBTQ teens can identify someone who they feel is “very supportive” of them
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the spring months have the highest rates of suicide during the year. If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with someone at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Paige Fegan, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
**Portions of the above information were adapted from:
Erbacher, T. (2009, February). Suicide does not discriminate: Issues of diversity in suicide. Lecture conducted from Widener University, School of Human Services Professions, Chester, PA.