Understanding and Preventing Suicide
a Toolkit
By Jennifer McGregor
You never expect suicide to hit close to home, but the reality is that in 2018, over 48,000 people took their own lives in the United States alone, and 1.4 million attempted suicide. Preventing suicide means taking it seriously and understanding its causes and risk factors. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and the ones you love.
First, if you or someone you know has expressed suicidal ideations, reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can talk to crisis counselors trained in suicide prevention 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive confidential support for yourself or a loved one. To talk to a Spanish-speaking crisis worker, call 1-888-628-9454. Deaf and hard of hearing individuals can call 1-800-799-4889.
If someone is in immediate danger of self-harm, call 911. An imminent suicide attempt is a medical emergency, and calling 911 can help keep a suicidal person safe while further support is arranged.
Suicide in the United States
While suicide rates in the U.S. are typically low, the numbers have been rising across nearly all demographics. Overall suicide rates rose 24 percent from 1999 to 2014 to make self-inflicted death the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S. That increase includes rising rates among white, Native American, and Hispanic men and women, black women, and teens. Adults between the ages of 45 and 64 years are most at risk of suicide, followed closely by elderly adults 85 years and older. While teens and young adults are less likely to take their own lives, 17 percent of high-schoolers have considered suicide.
The majority of people who commit suicide were experiencing depression at the time of their death, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed. Compared to the general population, people suffering from depression are 25 times more likely to take their own life. If depression is comorbid with a substance abuse problem, that number rises to 75.
Preventing Suicide
If depression is the biggest risk factor for suicide, it’s also where prevention begins. Early detection and treatment of depression is one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide and suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, despite treatment being effective in the vast majority of cases, many people with depression never get help
If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it’s time to talk to a skilled mental health professional like Natalia El-Sheikh about depression:
Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, or numbness.
Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed.
Withdrawal from relationships.
Dramatic changes in sleeping patterns.
Feeling fatigued despite adequate sleep.
Concentration and memory problems.
Dramatic changes in eating habits or weight.
Unexplained aches, pains, or digestive problems.
Thoughts of death or suicide.
While getting professional help is important, you can also take an active role in your mental wellness.
Rather than falling into unhealthy coping habits like drug or alcohol addiction, make self-care a priority. Take care of your physical needs with healthy meals, adequate sleep, and regular exercise. Learn mindfulness strategies like gratitude meditation to prevent ruminating on harmful thoughts. Make your home a more vibrant and positive space by letting in more natural light and removing clutter. Find ways to build meaning in everyday life, whether that’s a career change, a new hobby, or spiritual practice. Find a social network you can lean on for support. Each of these is an important way to be an active player in your own recovery.
In addition to regularly practicing self-care, you can also boost your mental health and even ease depression symptoms by volunteering for a cause that’s meaningful to you. Research has shown that donating your time increases positive feelings both while you’re volunteering and long after. Whether you work with homeless people or pets or tutor children in under-served communities, spending a few hours a week or month actively making a difference in the world around you offers a way to improve not just the lives of others, but also your own, giving you a new perspective and appreciation for how precious life is.
Suicide is serious and tragic, but it’s preventable when you take a proactive approach to mental health.
For compassionate and effective counseling for depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, trauma, anger, and stress, connect with Natalia El-Sheikh. Call (510) 882-7154 or email natalia@nataliapsychotherapy.com today.