Suicide Is on the Rise — Know the Warning Signs and How to Help

With the recent suicides of fashion designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain, which occurred within days of each other, have reignited a much-needed public discussion about suicide, mental illness and its treatment. As noted by Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), depression “is not a condition that is related to success or failure. No one is immune. The story at-a-glance  Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the U.S., affecting more than 16 million Americans, and the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.  Between 1999 and 2016, suicide increased by 28 percent across most American demographics; in 25 states, the suicide rate rose by more than 30 percent.  Between 2008 and 2015, the number of children hospitalized for either thinking about suicide or attempting suicide doubled; among girls aged 10 to 19, the suicide rate rose by 70 percent between 2010 and 2016.  In 2016, nearly 45,000 Americans committed suicide, making suicide the 10th most common cause of death that year; along with drug overdoses and Alzheimer’s disease, suicide is one of three leading causes of death that are on the rise.  Know the common causes of suicide, the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide, and how you can help them. Know the 12 Warning Signs of Suicide, and How to Help While some are better at keeping their depression and any thoughts of suicide well hidden, even from the ones they love, it’s important for everyone to recognize the warning signs, and what they can do to help. According to the CDC, the 12 warning signs that someone may be contemplating or getting close to suicide are: •Feeling like a burden •Being isolated •Increased anxiety •Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain •Increased substance use •Looking for a way to access lethal means •Increased anger or rage •Extreme mood swings •Expressing hopelessness •Sleeping too little or too much •Talking or posting about wanting to die •Making plans for suicide What You Can Do to Help If you notice one or more of these signs, take the following five steps to help. For more information about how to prevent suicide, see www.BeThe1To.com. 1. Ask how they are feeling and if they are considering ending their life, or if they have a plan to do so. 2. Don’t let them be alone and do your best to keep them safe. 3. Make yourself available to them. 4. Reach out to them daily and help them connect to others. 5. Follow up. If you live in the U.S. and are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line. If you are in danger of acting on suicidal thoughts, call 911 for immediate assistance. Source: mercola.com, 6/27/18.