National Suicide Prevention Week

Too many of us have lost a friend, partner, or family member to suicide.

It is an all too common occurrence, and unfortunately, it is likely that at some point in our lives, we are bound to know someone who decides to take their own life. Because suicide is avoidable, September 9–15 is National Suicide Prevention Week 2019.

Suicide Statistics in the U.S.

At Banyan Mental Health, our depression treatment program in Boca works with people who struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. We understand that severe depression is a much too common disorder in the United States, so we are here to give you some of the shocking facts.

Unfortunately, suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in United States in 2017 and the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 34.¹ As an entirely preventable cause of death, this number is alarming, especially with such high numbers for the youth.

As shocking as these numbers are, they do not include suicide attempts. In 2017 alone, there were 1,400,000 suicide attempts in the United States.² This translates to about 1.4 million adults (no children) trying to commit suicide.3 Imagine how high the suicide death rate would be if they were successful.

To give you a better scope on these numbers, there were twice as many suicides (not including attempts) in our country than homicides in 2017.1 This means that people were twice as likely to kill themselves than another person.

Although some people may not go so far as to attempt suicide, they may still experience suicidal thoughts. In 2017, it was estimated that 4.3% of adults over the age of 18 in the United States had thoughts about suicide in the last year.³ If these thoughts are not addressed with proper mental health treatment, they could develop into suicidal behavior.

World Suicide Prevention Day

During National Suicide Prevention Week is also World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Although, we have focused on suicide in the United States, suicide is a problem that stretches to all corners of the world. People from around the globe of all different cultures and backgrounds grapple with suicide.

Each year, it is estimated that almost 800,000 people die from suicide from around the world. Statistics also suggest that for every adult who dies from suicide, there are 20 other who have attempted it.⁴ This needs to stop.

What You Can Do to Prevent Suicide

If your loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or engaging in self harm or suicidal behavior, do not wait to get help. Especially if they are abusing drugs or alcohol, the time to act is now.

In honor of National Suicide Prevention Week, below are a few ways to help someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts.

• Take it seriously. Unfortunately, some people may neglect to take their loved one’s threats seriously until it is too late.
• Get them professional help. A professional treatment program like our Boca dual diagnosis treatment is designed to help people work through both depression and substance abuse.
• Act early. If your loved one suffers from depression but is not suicidal, do not stand idly by. Get them help for their depression before these more serious thoughts develop.
• Do your research. There are plenty of resources out there for someone who is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts. If your loved one is resistant to a certain type of treatment, find them another one immediately.

Whether you are looking for alcohol and depression treatment in Pompano for yourself or your loved one struggles with major depression disorder, reach out to us immediately.

With National Suicide Prevention Week here, do not hesitate any longer. By calling 888-280-4763, you may be able to save a life.

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1. CDC - Leading Causes of Death Reports, 1981 - 2017
2. CDC - Preventing Suicide
3. SAMHSA - National Survey on Drug Use and Health
4. World Health Organization - Suicide data