Suicide: Facts, Signs, and Intervention

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Statistics

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Over 47,000 people die by suicide each year.
The rate has gone up by 30% over the last 16 years.
The rate of suicide among young Black children between the ages of 5 -12 has doubled in the last 15 years.
Native Americans have the greatest incidence of suicide.
About 85 percent of suicide attempts with a firearm end in death. (Drug overdose, the most widely used method in suicide attempts, is fatal in less than 3 percent of the cases.)
For attempted suicides, Men are more likely to complete suicide compared to women.
The rate of suicide is highest in middle-age white men.
In 2017, men died by suicide 3.54 times more often than women.
On average, there are 129 suicides per day.
White males accounted for 69.67% of suicide deaths in 2017.
In 2017, firearms accounted for 50.57% of all suicide deaths.

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Youth and Suicide

The rate of high school-aged youth considering and committing suicide continues to rise, particularly among female students.
Children do not have the words to express hurts, disappointments or observations.
Getting Black youth linked to culturally-affirming counselors is key to decreasing the rate of suicide.
Give the youth a safe space to express and process stress, issues, and concerns.
Value children and allow children to feel loved.

Risk Factors Leading to Suicide

Exposure to trauma, response/reaction to trauma, and how trauma is processed are directly correlated to a suicide attempt.
Negative engagement by others due to a person’s sexual orientation.
Depression – issue of hopelessness and not being able to see your way out.
Substance abuse.
Being bullied or enduring a hostile work or home environment.
Experiencing life-changing situations – job loss, death of a friend or family member, relationship break-up.

Protective Factors Preventing Suicide

For The Individual at Risk

Feeling comfortable in your emotions knowing that they are temporary.
Having a trusted mental health provider when stress, depression, or overwhelming emotions are present for more than several weeks.
Exercising – physical movement for 20 – 30 minutes, three times a week.
Gaining coping skills.
Having spirituality or a belief in a higher power.

For Family and Friends of Individuals at Risk

Get Educated and gain awareness about signs of depression, suicide ideation.
Create intentional safe spaces for those with mental health challenges.
Listen without always having a solution if the person discusses their issues.
Ask the person directly if they are thinking of harming themselves with a non-judgmental disposition

Warning Signs of Suicidal Ideation

Giving away possessions
Demeanor and change in mood – very irritable
Isolating and withdrawing from others.
May actually speak about self-harm and suicide. Not your job to know if someone is seeking attention behavior. Take every suicide threat seriously.
Verbal cues such as “I don’t want to be here”, “I don’t want to be a burden to you”, and “you all would be better off without me.”

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Resource Information

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has resources on their website.
Visit the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) to analyze national, state, and local youth risk behaviors
The web-based program, CALM Tools for Living, is available for use by clinicians or agencies. CALM is a structured therapeutic approach that has been demonstrated to be effective in helping people to reduce their anxiety and depression symptoms.

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