Suicide is America’s 10th leading cause of death and the third-leading cause for ages 15-24.
Declaring September “Suicide Prevention Month” brings awareness on how to lower the country’s rising suicide rates.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates rose 30% from 2000 to 2020, and ages 10-14 and 15-24 saw increased suicide rates. The National Mental Health Institution states that ages 18-25 displayed the most prevalence of suicidal thoughts.
Men are twice as likely as women to commit suicide. CDC data showed that 49,449 people committed suicide in 2022, doubling the number of murders.
Preventing suicide is understanding the signs. Someone who is suicidal may exhibit depression, acting anxious, substance abuse, self-isolation, talking about feeling hopeless, or expressing a desire to commit suicide.
Licensed therapist Trudy Goski, who specializes in general mental health and has over 13 years of experience being a licensed therapist, said, “Find signs in any changed behavior, they might not always act like someone that is depressed, they may be hyperactive or retreat until they do their final retreat.”
Someone suffering from suicidal thoughts may seek help using hotlines such as 988, the suicide and crisis lifeline; 211, a free crisis and emergency counseling for mental health; and 911, the emergency hotline.
Goski encourages her clients and others suffering from suicidal thoughts and depression to find a counselor. For her clients, Goski uses CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
“I give them skills so they can combat those thoughts to reframe how they are thinking and encourage them to talk to a specialist or a hotline,” she stated.
Counseling programs such as BetterHelp and Talkspace provide affordable counseling over the phone. There are also support groups such as Mental Health America that can provide additional assistance.
Friends and family of people suffering from suicidal thoughts can always lend a helping hand by lending an ear. Listening to a friend or family could prevent these numbers from continuing to rise. People often need to vent and get their thoughts out.
“The person in the situation may just need someone to listen to,” Goski said.
Hotlines are also not just for people suffering but can also be used by others looking for advice they can give or how they can be there for their loved ones.
Friends and families can help lower suicidal rates by identifying the signs, knowing the different sources, and listening to friends and family speak about their concerns.