Monday, May 6, 2024
Since 2008, September has been the mark of National Suicide prevention and awareness month. This is a month to remember all the lives lost due to suicide and to support those who have lost a loved one to suicide. It is also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention.
According to the CDC, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. The number of deaths by suicide increased 2.6 percent from 2021 to 2022 from 48,183 to 49,449. In 2021, Texas had the highest number of deaths from suicide with 4,193 people per 100,000 total population.
Suicide is something that takes the lives of a range of ages but is more prevalent in those ages from 10 to 14, and 25 to 34 according to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.
While there is no one cause of suicide there are some risk factors or conditions that can increase the chances of suicide such as metal health conditions like depression, anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or traumatic brain injuries. More risk factors include access to firearms and drugs, prolonged stress such as bullying, relationship problems or unemployment, stressful life events such as divorce, financial troubles, loss, and exposure to another person’s suicide.
Here are some warning signs of someone with suicidal ideation from the National Institute of Mental Health:
A person may talk about feeling like a burden to others, feel guilty or shameful, or talk about wanting to die. Some feelings can include emptiness, hopelessness, feeling trapped, or no reason to live. Feelings can also include being extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage. Some feelings can be unbearable emotions and even physical pain.
A person with suicidal ideation may also have a change in behavior such as withdrawing from friends, taking dangerous risks, eating, or sleeping more or less, using drugs or alcohol more often, and making a plan or researching ways to die.
Some factors that can help protect someone from taking their live can include, mental health care, connections to family and support, problem solving and coping skills, and creating a strong sense of purpose and self-esteem.
You can help someone struggling by educating yourself and others about suicide prevention by learning these risk factors. Some other helpful actions include talking with them, asking questions, listening without judgment, staying with the person, removing any harmful objects, and reaching out to the suicide and crisis line and following their guidance.
Hood County’s counseling center is a great resource to seek help or find guidance and support for adults, adolescents, and children.
The center specializes in the treatment of mental health and life issues. They offer psychotherapy and specialize in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, relationship problems, PTSD, ADHD, career services, substance abuse, parenting, life skills, and grief counseling.
The center also offers telebehavioral therapy which allows for counseling over the phone.
The center is open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit their website at hoodcountycc.com, call 817-559-4589 or email at hccc807@yahoo.com for more information.
For someone to talk to 24/7, contact the suicide and crisis lifeline number at 988 by text or phone call.
