It’s something that very few people feel comfortable talking about.
In fact, it’s a topic that is often stayed away from on purpose.
But this week is National Suicide Prevention Week and it’s time that open discussions about suicide take place. The annual week runs from Sept. 10-16 and highlights ways people can get help if they are having thoughts of ending their lives.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has kicked off the “Talk Away the Dark” campaign in 2023 to hopefully help educate the public about resources for anyone in need of mental health care or crisis prevention.
First and foremost, anyone who is experiencing thoughts of suicide can call 988, 24 hours per day, and receive help. You can also text “TALK” to 741741 to reach the suicide prevention center.
While there is no single cause of suicide, there are some common signs to watch out for in friends and relatives. According to the AFSP, the following behaviors can be signs that someone is considering ending their life:
• Talk of no longer wanting to live
• Talk of being a burden to others
• Talk of hopelessness, feeling trapped, or in mental anguish
• Increased drug or alcohol use
• Isolating from friends/family
• Visiting or calling people to say goodbyes
• Giving away possessions/mementos
• Extreme fatigue
• Feeling anxiety and/or depression
Something to look out for when concerned that a person may be suicidal is a change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors. This is of sharpest concern if the new or changed behavior is related to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do.
According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide rates nationally increased by 2.6 percent from 2021 to 2022 with 49,449 people taking their own lives. More than 75 percent of those deaths were among men, and more than two-thirds were among people between the ages of 24-64.
One suicide death every 11 minutes is more than a sobering statistic, it’s an indelible impact on tens of thousands of families.
For more information on suicide prevention, visit afsp.org.