September is National Suicide Prevention Month – a time that serves as a powerful reminder that suicide is preventable and that there are things all of us can do to look out for loved ones, the people in our community and those who have been impacted by this leading cause of death.
What can we do to prevent suicide?
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline promotes the message of #BeThe1To. Their message is to spread the word about actions everyone can take to help prevent suicide. Two of the biggest points in their message include “Ask” and “Be There.”
Ask – Research has shown that people who are having suicidal thoughts feel relieved when someone asks questions about them in a caring way.
Be There – After speaking to someone who listens without judgment, people are more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed and more hopeful.
Findings have shown that acknowledging and talking about suicide actually prevents it more than it increases the idea. If you or someone you know is struggling with the idea of suicide, or you’d like to learn more about how you can respond, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a great resource.
Did you know … ?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S.
- In 2022, 49,476 Americans died by suicide. That’s one death every 11 minutes.
- In 2022, there were an estimated 1.6 million suicide attempts.
- That doesn’t include 13.2 million who seriously thought about suicide and 3.8 million who made a plan for suicide.
- That same year, men died by suicide 3.85 times more often than women.
- White males accounted for 68.46% of suicide deaths in 2022.
- Suicide affects people of all ages. People age 85 and older had the highest rate of suicide in 2022; ages 75 to 84 was second-highest. Among people ages 10-14 and 25-34, suicide was the second-leading cause of death.
- Firearms are the most common method used in suicides, accounting for more than half of all suicide deaths in 2022.
Suicide’s Far-Reaching Impact
Suicide and suicide attempts cause serious emotional, physical and economic impacts far beyond the act itself. People who attempt suicide and survive may experience serious injuries that can have long-term effects on their health. They may also experience depression and other mental health concerns.
Suicide and suicide attempts also affect the health and well-being of friends, loved ones, co-workers and the community. When people die by suicide, their surviving family and friends may experience prolonged grief, shock, anger, guilt, symptoms of depression or anxiety, and even thoughts of suicide themselves.
For every suicide death, there are approximately:
- 11 emergency department visits for self-harm.
- 52 self-reported suicide attempts.
- 336 people who seriously considered suicide.
Learn more online.
Check out these links for more information:
- Learn more about 988, the government’s free suicide and mental health lifeline, in our article.
- Watch this short video about the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, from our partners at Riverside Healthcare.
- Read a number of helpful articles regarding suicide prevention on Memorial Health’s blog.
- Listen to our inspiring podcast on the journey to recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.
- Discover more resources for substance abuse help on our site.
- Get the International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) Toolkit from the CDC. And find even more helpful information here.
Important note: Call or send a text to the number 988, the government’s free suicide and mental health lifeline, if you or a loved one of any age are facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to. In an immediate, life-threatening emergency, call 911.