Suicide

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
Languages: English, Spanish.
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Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

Suicide is death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die. All things considered, a suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions.

Accordingly, many factors can increase the risk for suicide or protect against it. Suicide is connected to other forms of injury and violence. For example, people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence have a higher suicide risk. Being connected to family and community support and having easy access to healthcare can decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Key facts

Firstly, more than 700,000 people die due to suicide every year.
Also, for every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide. A prior suicide attempt is an important risk factor for suicide in the general population.
Additionally, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.
Seventy-seven per cent of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Finally, ingestion of pesticide, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally.

Suicide Attempts

Suicide attempts over and over. Why can’t I die? Maybe because you really don’t want to. Basically, you just want the emotional pain to stop. You can’t stand the agonizing pain or self loathing. Altogether, you can’t control your life anymore. Medicines and talk therapy aren’t helping. Nothing is helping! Why can’t I be the way I used to be? Happy, fun-loving. The pain is unbearable. So you attempt suicide once again…

You wake up once again. Why am I still here? I don’t want to be. God, please just let this be over with. Emphatically, all you want is help for this immense pain. Nobody can help me, not even myself. How did my life become like this? Besides, I can’t control my thoughts or feelings anymore. I can’t even get out of bed. All my friends and family have left me. You’re caught in this never ending cycle of emotional turmoil. At any rate, you just feel trapped. Please God, make this pain go away! Why am I even still alive? Was I put here just to suffer? I CAN’T TAKE THIS ANYMORE! So you attempt suicide once again…

Warning Signs of Suicide

In general, here are some warning signs of suicide:

Firstly, often talking or writing about death, dying or suicide.
Making comments about being hopeless, helpless or worthless.
Expressions of having no reason for living; no sense of purpose in life; saying things like “It would be better if I wasn’t here” or “I want out.”
Fourthly, increased alcohol and/or drug use.
Withdrawal from friends, family and community.
Additionally, reckless behavior or more risky activities, seemingly without thinking.
Dramatic mood changes.
Lastly, talking about feeling trapped or being a burden to others.

Risk and Protective Factors

Risk and protective factors help to explain why a problem exists. Therefore, these factors suggest why certain individuals or groups are more or less likely to become victims of crime or to become involved in crime.

Risk factors

These are negative influences in the lives of individuals or a community. Hence, These may increase the presence of crime, victimization or fear of crime in a community. They may also increase the likelihood that individuals engage in crime or become victims.

Protective factors

These are positive influences that can improve the lives of individuals or the safety of a community. Hence, these may decrease the likelihood that individuals engage in crime or become victims. Building on existing protective factors makes individuals and communities stronger. Also, better able to counteract risk factors.

There are many possible risk factors. In sum, the extent to which they have an influence on crime or victimization will depend on the particular situation. Here are just a few examples:

Firstly, negative attitudes, values or beliefs
Low self-esteem
Drug, alcohol or solvent abuse
Fourthly, poverty
Children of parents in conflict with the law
Homelessness
Presence of neighborhood crime
Early and repeated anti-social behavior
Additionally, lack of positive role models
Children who witness violence
At length, lack of services (social, recreational, cultural, etc.)
Unemployment/underemployment
Family distress
In addition, racism
Mental or physical illness
Low literacy
Leaving institutional/government care (hospital, foster care, correctional facility, etc.)
Finally, family violence

Protective factor examples

There are many possible protective factors. Consequently, the extent to which they have an influence on the prevention of crime or victimization will depend on the particular situation. Here are just a few examples:

Firstly, positive attitudes, values or beliefs
Conflict resolution skills
Good mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health
Fourthly, Positive self-esteem
Success at school
Good parenting skills
Parental supervision
In addition, strong social supports
Community engagement
Problem-solving skills
Also, positive adult role models, coaches, mentors
Healthy prenatal and early childhood development
Additionally, participation in traditional healing and cultural activities
Good peer group/friends
Steady employment
Stable housing
Lastly, availability of services (social, recreational, cultural, etc.)

Prevention Strategies

Strengthen economic supports

Improve household financial security
Stabilize housing
Create protective environments icon

Equally, create protective environments

Reduce access to lethal means among persons at risk of suicide
Create healthy organizational policies and culture
Reduce substance use through community-based policies and practices
Improve access and delivery of suicide care icon

Improve access and delivery of suicide care

Firstly, cover mental health conditions in health insurance policies
Increase provider availability in underserved areas
Provide rapid and remote access to help
Create safer suicide care through systems change
Lastly, promote healthy connections icon

Promote healthy connections

Promote healthy peer norms
Engage community members in shared activities
Teach coping and problem-solving skills icon

Teach coping and problem-solving skills

Firstly, support social-emotional learning programs
Teach parenting skills to improve family relationships
Support resilience through education programs
Lastly, identify and support people at risk icon

Identify and support people at risk

Firstly, train gatekeepers
Respond to crises
Plan for safety and follow-up after an attempt
Provide therapeutic approaches
Lastly, lessen harms and prevent future risk icon

Lessen harms and prevent future risk

Intervene after a suicide (post intervention)
Report and message about suicide safely

Conclusion

Subsequently, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. Throughout the month, NAMI actively participates in this national movement, dedicated to eradicating stigma, extending support, fostering public education and advocating for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Organizations Dealing With Suicide

-NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Health

https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month

–SAMHSA’s National Helpline

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

-NIH, National Institute of Mental Health

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help

Have a Good One,

Cindee Murphy, One Voice In The Vastness Of Emotions

“Did you really want to die?”
“No one dies by suicide because they want to die.”
“Then why do they do it?”
“Because they want to stop the pain.”
― Tiffanie DeBartolo, How to Kill a Rock Star

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