What You Need to Know About Suicide in the U.S.

Guest post by Jennifer Scott

Over a quarter million people lose a loved one to suicide every year in the United States, but this public health crisis rarely gets the attention it deserves. Here are some facts you need to know in order to understand this growing problem.

What to Do if You’re Feeling Suicidal
If you’re thinking about hurting yourself, reach out to a crisis hotline for someone to talk to. While suicide may seem like an option in this moment, it’s a decision you can never take back.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255 (English), 1-888-628-9454 (Spanish), 1-800-799-4889 (deaf and hard of hearing), or online chat.
• IMAlive, 1-800-442-4673 or IMAlive chat.
•  Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741. 

You can call a crisis hotline for yourself or if you’re worried about someone you know. And crisis hotlines aren’t only for moments when self-harm seems imminent; you can call a crisis hotline any time you need support.

Facts About Suicide in the U.S.
It’s easy to think that suicide could never affect you or your loved ones, but the reality is, suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S. Here are some numbers to know:

• Suicide is the number 10 cause of death in the U.S; among youth ages 10 to 14 it’s the third leading cause of death, and among teens and adults ages 15 to 34 it’s the second.
• Four percent of all American adults have thought about suicide; among adults aged 18 to 25, that rate more than doubles.
• Each year over 44,000 Americans die by suicide, and the suicide rate is increasing.
• Men are nearly four times as likely commit suicide than women. Women are most at risk between the ages of 45 to 64, while men over the age of 75 are most vulnerable.
• American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Whites commit suicide at more than twice the rate of Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic individuals.
• Firearms are used in almost half of all suicide deaths.

Risk Factors, Warning Signs, and Prevention
There’s no denying that suicide is a major problem, but what can you do about it? Preventing suicide starts with recognizing the risk factors and warning signs that can lead to a suicide attempt.
Risk Factors

• A mental health condition like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.
• Addiction to drugs or alcohol, including prescription medications.
• A recent loss, be it the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a job or financial loss.
• Lack of social support or an isolated lifestyle.
• Access to lethal means.
• Previous suicide attempts, a family history of suicide, or exposure to the suicide of others.

Warning Signs

• Feelings of hopelessness or a lack of purpose in life.
• Changes in behavior, such as increased irritability, agitation, anger, mood swings, or reckless behavior.
• Substance abuse, such as alcohol, illicit drug, or prescription medication abuse.
• Giving away possessions or taking measures to say goodbye.
• Talking of wanting to die or kill themselves.

 
If you notice these signs in yourself or someone you know, it’s critical that you take action. Ask these questions to find out if someone has the intention, plan, and means to carry out a suicide attempt.
 

• Are you thinking of killing yourself?
• Do you have a plan?
• Do you have access to a suicide method (firearm, pills, etc.)?
• Do you know when you plan to do it?

 
While it may be uncomfortable, being direct is the best way to assess suicide risk without making the person feel stigmatized or as if they’re not being taken seriously.
 
If a person in crisis has both the intention and the means to commit suicide, call 911 immediately. Never leave a suicidal person alone.
 
If a person is thinking about suicide but doesn’t have a plan, emergency response may not be necessary. Instead, encourage the person to reach out to a crisis hotline for urgent support and find a mental health professional to provide ongoing treatment.
 
It’s possible to build a healthy, happy life after suicidal ideations, but it requires ongoing support, love, and compassion from family, friends, health care professionals, and oneself.
 
Image via Unsplash

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