Suicide Prevention Saves Lives
It’s time we talk about suicide. Specifically, we need to talk about the alarming increase in suicides in America, how to recognize signs that someone is considering taking their own life and where to turn for help.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. The U.S. government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has declared Sept. 8-14 as National Suicide Prevention Week, and Sept. 10 has been designated World Suicide Prevention Day by The International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization. Regardless of who seeks to raise our awareness, it’s always a good time to think about and discuss suicide prevention.
Suicide is the tenth-leading cause of death in the United States. More than 47,000 Americans took their own lives in 2017. Suicides have increased 36 percent since 1999. The surging rate of suicide – along with two other types of “deaths of despair,” alcoholism and drug overdose – largely accounts for a three-year decline in average life expectancy in our nation.
Missouri has the 13th highest suicide rate in America. More than 1,100 of our residents died by suicide in 2017. There is a suicide in Missouri, on average, every seven hours.
In Missouri, as elsewhere in America, white males are most likely to end their own lives. Nearly 80 percent of those who die by suicide are male, with the highest rates among those age 45-54 and 75 and older. Young people are not immune, however. Suicide is the No. 2 cause of death among those ages 10-24.
Military veterans take their own lives at twice the rate of non-veterans, and more active duty military personnel have died by suicide than by combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2016, suicide claimed the lives of 154 Missouri veterans. That year, Missouri’s veteran suicide rate was 34 per 100,000 residents, some 15 percent higher than the national average of 30. By comparison, the national average for the entire population is 14 suicides per 100,000.
Generally, suicide is a consequence of treatable mental disorders, including major depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress, significant anxiety disorders or substance abuse. Major life upheavals such as the loss of a spouse, unemployment, financial struggles or serious health conditions may also contribute to thoughts of suicide.
Often, people who contemplate suicide display warning signs. Excessive sadness or moodiness, hopelessness, withdrawal or changes in personality or appearance may indicate that someone is experiencing significant difficulties that could lead to suicide. Certainly, self-harming behavior, expressions of or preparations for suicide are obvious red flags that demand immediate intervention.
The good news is that help is just a phone call away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as crisis intervention resources. The lifeline, 1-800-272-TALK (8255), is staffed around the clock, seven days a week. The Veterans Crisis Line, at 1-800-273-8255, connects callers with qualified responders at the Department of Veterans Affairs. For those more comfortable texting than talking, a text to 741741 will connect people to trained crisis counselors at the Crisis Text Line. Also, the Missouri Department of Mental Health has a list of other suicide prevention resources, as well as information about America’s suicide epidemic at its website, dmh.mo.gov/mentalillness/suicide.
Hopelessness, depression and despair can happen any time of year, but Suicide Prevention Month offers a great reminder that this tragic loss of life is preventable. Mental illness is treatable. Temporary or transient life challenges can be overcome. So, let’s all learn to recognize the signs that someone is experiencing life-threatening difficulties and become aware of the resources that can help. Finally, we can all join in a spiritual army to combat suicide by participating in a National Week of Prayer for Hope, Faith and Life, Sept. 8-14, sponsored by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
It’s my honor to serve as your senator for the 16th District. If you have questions or need any assistance, please call my office at 573-751-5713 or log onto my webpage at https://www.senate.mo.gov/brown for more information.