Suicide is a sensitive subject for most and something not many people feel comfortable discussing freely and openly. However this discussion is necessary. September is known as the National Suicide Prevention Month, where advocates for suicide prevention unite others among the common cause to bring light to such a pressing and common issue.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has found that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US, and has cost over $69 billion in some of the most recent years. According to SAVE, another suicide prevention group, states that depression is the leading cause of suicide worldwide, and nearly 800,000 people die every year due to suicide; that’s nearly 1 person lost to suicide every 40 seconds. However there are people working against this. Many organizations such as SAVE or AFSP fight for discussion and recognition over the topic of suicide awareness.

While Suicide itself is not a mental illness, it is the lasting affect or consequence caused my many treatable mental illnesses. Some warning signs may include a lack of sleep, withdrawal (especially from activities they use to be formally or heavily involved with), a feeling of hopelessness, or a sudden calmness, suggesting one may have already made the decision to end their life. To learn how to recognize more symptoms, go to Recognizing Suicidal Behavior by WebMD.

If you or someone you know is in need of help from any of the organizations, you can refer to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1-800-273-8255, to talk to someone who can help and understand what you’re going through. 

Resources: 

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

https://www.sprc.org/about-sprc

https://afsp.org/

https://www.sprc.org/organizations/%20national-federal

1-800-273-8255 – Available 24 hours everyday

For those who don’t wish to call, there is an online chat option, where they can talk with someone through text about what they’re experiencing:

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/