When a brick is knocked loose, then another in the mind of a potential suicide victim, his or her world begins to fall apart. Reconstructing the damage becomes painful and more difficult by the day and sometimes impossible for those who see no light at the end of the tunnel. As the tunnel becomes darker and gloomier, the inconsolable feel the urge to end their lives. Note, with some suicide victims, the signs are obvious. If a student seems down and depressed or unable to participate in classroom activities, the teacher might notice perplexing changes and share her concerns with the Counseling Department. If an employee observes a sudden change in a coworker’s behavior or attitude, she may share the information with her superior who may, in turn, recommend intervention. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Many who kill themselves learn to mask their feelings and their death takes everyone by surprise. In fact, studies show that more than half of people who kill themselves do not have a diagnosed mental health condition prior to death. A clinical diagnosis is not always an option, and many victims are left undiagnosed. The despair that leads people to take their own lives may be something they are suffering with for days, months, or even years. Yet, in the aftermath, we burden ourselves with one of the most repetitive questions – “why?” – a question we may never find an answer to. Essentially, it is important to recognize the seriousness of the problem, identify its causes, and seek preventative measures to intervene as quickly as possible.
Today, suicide is a national and global epidemic. The epidemic is so prevalent that recent studies show rates of death by suicide in the United States have risen roughly by 25 percent in the last couple of decades. On average, there are 123 suicides per day with mental health issues contributing to fifty percent of them.
Suicide is not only a mental health problem, but a public one as well. Easy access to fire arms makes it the most commonly used method. Also, suicide is not always intuitive. Those who commit suicide do not want to stop living, but if committing suicide is the only way to end their mental agony, they welcome it regardless of faith or religious beliefs. The Bible, The Quran, and the Old Testament strongly condemn suicide, but the last thing on the mind of those struggling with serious mental health problems is far from connecting with spiritual truths.
When teenagers commit suicide, they are determined to cause their own death. According to the CDC, boys are 4 times more likely to die from suicide than girls, but girls are more likely to attempt it. Before attempting to take their lives, they go through suicidal ideation. They focus on doing things that may cause their death. Studies by John Hopkins School of Medicine reveal that they lose interest in usual activities and experience changes in their eating and sleeping habits, use drugs or become obsessed with death and dying.
Americans aged 65 years and older make up 20 percent of all suicide deaths and only account for 13 percent of the American population. Teenagers far outnumber seniors with attempted suicide, but seniors are more successful at it because they have a stronger desire to end their lives. According to Senior Living Link, depression is the leading predictor among seniors but it still “fails to be recognized and treated consistently within health systems across the United States.”
The CDC highlights strategies based on the best available evidence to help states and communities prevent suicide. Strategies include strengthening economic support. In other words, facilitate access to healthcare; reduce lethal means among persons at risk, provide self-help programs and community activities, promote connectedness, and teach problem-solving skills, identify people at risk, prevent future risks by providing safe reporting and messaging.
Suicide is serious, but preventable. While there are many causes that lead to suicide, prevention strategies are aimed at reducing factors that increase the dynamics that promote resilience and coping. Rarely do suicide victims turn to a physician, public education, treatments, media strategies, or the internet to find support. However, if warning signs are detected early on, suicide can be prevented. Studies have shown that people who receive help from caring family and friends are less likely to act on their impulses. The best way to help is to contact National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that offers support 24/7 and will connect you to a local crisis center. In the end, effective prevention strategies are necessary to promote awareness and social change. As psychiatrist Dr. Judith Orloff states, “Freedom comes” when those who are thinking about suicide “persist in searching for the light until it’s visible again.” We may not always be able to save a life, but we can try.
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