Facts and Warning Signs
Quick Facts:
- Approximately 32,000 Americans die by suicide each year.
- There is 1 suicide every 16 minutes and 88 suicides per day.
- Suicide is the:
- 11th leading cause of death overall in America;
- 3rd leading cause of death for young Americans between the ages of 10-24; and
- 2nd leading cause of death for American college-aged students.
- For every US suicide death there are 8 to 26 attempts.
- There are an estimated 1.4 million attempts per year in the United States.
- For every suicide death there are an estimated six new survivors.
- Suicide deaths consistently outnumber homicide deaths by a margin of three to two.
- There are more suicides globally than deaths from war and violence combined.
- Approximately twice as many Americans die by suicides than from HIV/AIDS.
Warning Signs:
- Hopelessness.
- Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge.
- Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking.
- Increased alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawing from friends, family and society.
- Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time.
- Dramatic mood changes.
- Giving away belongings or returning borrowed items.
What To Do If You Witness, Hear or See Anyone Exibiting Warning Signs:
- Be aware. Learn the warning signs.
- Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
- Ask if he/she is thinking about suicide.
- Be direct. Talk openly and freely about suicide.
- Be willing to listen. Allow for expression of feelings. Accept the feelings.
- Be non-judgmental. Don't debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or feelings are good or bad. Don't lecture on the value of life.
- Don't dare him/her to do it.
- Don't give advice by making decisions for someone else to tell them to behave differently.
- Don't ask 'why'. This encourages defensiveness.
- Offer empathy, not sympathy.
- Don't act shocked. This creates distance.
- Don't be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
- Offer hope that alternatives are available, do not offer glib reassurance; it only proves you don't understand.
- Take action! Remove means! Get help from individuals or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
- Seek help as soon as possible by contacting a mental health professional or calling 1-800-273-8255.
Information provide by American Association of Suicidology.
