Dear friends,
I know this is late, but I've been so busy I can barely think straight sometimes. However, suicide prevention and awareness have a special place in my heart, and I felt that I had a moral obligation to write a blog about it. So, I happily complied. :)
In honor of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (which occurs in the month of September each year), I wanted to talk a little bit about suicide, give some statistics, and share some warning signs to look for in others, especially those that you know pretty well. And unfortunately, suicide may be a lot more common than most think, or care to admit.
First, let us make sure we know the differences between suicide, suicide attempt, and suicide ideation. Suicide is death caused by self-injurious behavior towards oneself. A suicide attempt is when a person tries to commit suicide but is not successful. And lastly, suicide ideation involves the thoughts, ideas, or actual plans of committing suicide. I think from an awareness standpoint, it's important to understand the differences between these 3 words and their expressions because they really are not all the same. And, as I've seemed to notice more and more often as of late, small differences can make a big impact.
It's important to be cognizant of how the three feed into each other, because not everyone who experiences suicidal ideation attempts suicide, and you don't necessarily have to experience suicidal ideations in order to make an attempt. Like most aspects of mental illness, suicide is a complicated subject matter which is why it needs to be talked about and discussed more openly, regularly, and empathetically. Without spreading knowledge, awareness, and prevention strategies related to suicide, we aren't making progress. Oftentimes, suicide is preventable, so knowing the facts and paying attention to those around you with a little more intent can help save lives.
Now, I would like to share some interesting statistics that I found on the National Institute of Mental Health's website. According to a report done by the CDC, in the year 2018, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S. However, it was the 2nd leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 34 years old. You read that right. SECOND LEADING CAUSE! Not to mention, in 2018, there were more than two and a half times as many suicides as homicides carried out in the U.S.
Another interesting point I'd like to discuss is the gender differences seen in suicide. In my Psychology of Women class, we actually learned about this in great detail, but I'll just give the gist of it. Men are more likely to die by suicide; however, women are more likely to attempt suicide. What do you think accounts for this gender difference in suicide statistics? Is it influenced by the way our society believes men should behave? Does the pressure put on women to be "picture perfect" have something to do with this? Is it social media? Maybe, it's a combination of a bunch of different factors that are somehow interrelated? I'll let you think, research, and decide for yourself, because it's kind of hard to pinpoint one specific cause or factor for the gender differences seen in suicide statistics.
Also, I wanted to bring up how and why the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in suicides. Due to the rampant increase of fear, social isolation, uncertainty, stress, anxiety, unemployment, etc., the rates of suicidal ideation, stress disorders, and in turn, suicides have increased since the pandemic. Low resiliency, poor coping mechanisms, low levels of support, higher susceptibility to mental illness, genetic predisposition, etc. are all factors that predict the worst mental health effects from the pandemic. And unfortunately, even survivors of COVID-19 may have an elevated suicide risk.
I find it ironic that in light of "National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month", roughly 4,000 will die in the United States in the 30 days total of September. About 132 people die by suicide each day in the United States, and 90% of those who died had a diagnosable mental health condition at the time of death. The fact that it is hard for me to think of someone I know who has not been affected by suicide is truly a tragic occurrence and one that I wish never existed.
It's important to pay attention to certain warning signs you might see in yourself, in your loved ones, and even in strangers that could hint at the possibility of suicide. As I've alluded to before, everyone is different, and the experience of suicide is no exception. One warning sign you see in one person may not be the same warning sign you see in some else.
Here are some of the main warning signs of suicide:
- talking about wanting to die or killing oneself
- self-harming behaviors
- expressing feelings of extreme guilt, shame, emptiness, or being a burden
- social isolation
- sleeping too much or too little
- extreme emotional or physical pain
- saying goodbye, getting rid of possessions, preparing to leave, writing a will, etc.
- intense weight fluctuations
- increased use of drugs or alcohol
- researching ways or making plans to die
In my perspective, every life on this planet is sacred, valuable, necessary. A life lost to one is a life lost to all. Just be kind, watch out for others---and you!---, and be the best version of yourself you can possibly be. At the end of the day, life is what you make it, and if you can brighten someone else's day, why not? Until next time.
xoxo,
Allie
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