Suicide Prevention
April 21, 2014 | 
Author
For the month of April I am participating in the annual A-Z Blogging Challenge. The Challenge was started by author/blogger, Arlee Byrd. http://tossingitout.blogspot.com
Each day of the month (except Sundays) we will post something based on that days correlating letter. Some of us chose a theme and others are winging it. My theme is the A-to-Z’s of Mental Health, Raising Awareness. It is a topic that is very close to my heart. I hope you find the posts interesting and you will comment and share the posts everywhere. To see a list of all of the participants or for more information-click on the badge over there to the right>
Today’s letter is the letter S
Suicide
Suicide is the act of killing oneself. Violence directed at oneself resulting in death.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [AFSP], the most recent suicide stats available are from the year 2010. In the year 2010 there were 38,364 people who died of suicide.
18.6% were aged 45-65
17.6% were aged 85 years-old or older
10.5% were aged 15-24
The methods of suicide were:
#1 – firearm
#2 – hanging
#3- poisoning
Warning Signs:
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.
- Looking for a way to kill themselves, such as searching online or buying a gun
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
- Talking about being a burden to others.
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
- Sleeping too little or too much.
- Withdrawing or isolating themselves.
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
- Displaying extreme mood swings.
- What you can do if someone you love or care about is exhibiting one or more of these symptoms:
- Let them know you care about them.
- Tell them why you are concerned.
- Ask them if they are considering suicide.
- Ask if they are seeing a doctor. If they say yes ask them to call and make an appointment. If they say no, offer to help them find a doctor.
- Do not try to make them feel guilty.
If you cannot convince them to get help call the hotline and ask them what more you can do. If someone mentions suicide to you, they are serious. Do not leave them alone. They are NOT looking for attention. They are more than likely looking for the complete opposite; they are in so much pain they want to disappear. Do not let anyone tell you that you are overreacting.
No matter what problems you are dealing with, we want to help you find a reason to keep living. By calling
1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.
For more information: http://www.afsp.org
For my family suicide is personal. I lost my both of my grandfathers to suicide. My husband lost his seventeen-year-old son to suicide.
I would love to hang out with you here too:
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Posted in "Bristol boyz Stomp", A-to-Z Blogging Challenge, A-Z Theme Reveal, Book, Doreen McGettigan, News, The A-Z Challenge, The Fathers Pain, They Say Everyone Has A Story, this is mine..., Veterans Medical Center | 
Tags: #a-z, A to Z Challenge, A-Z Challenge, AFSP, bristol boyz stomp, depression, doreen mcgettigan, Mental Health, Mental Health Awareness, MWSA, Philadelphia, suicide, Suicide Prevention, true story, writing
Thank you for sharing this information. There is so much awful misinformation and stigma about suicide and about mental illness in general. I really get my steam on when I hear people say things like “people who commit suicide are selfish.” I’ve even heard so-called mental health professionals say this (including the nurse who taught the mental health class in the LPN program where I was a student.)
There are a lot of mood disorders in my family. I had a cousin who committed suicide, and two friends who did. I deal with suicide ideation, but have not had a planning stage to go along with my suicidal feelings in quite some time.
I’m one of the KHEL 666 blogging Krew. I’m the one who created the Thomas the Tank Engine post! 🙂
I cannot believe a professional would call someone who is suicidal selfish. It boggles my mind too.
I am so happy to hear you are dealing with and not planning!
Thomas was my special needs grandson’s favorite when he was younger.
He used to watch the episodes over and over and over. I fell in love with the stories:)
Hi Doreen, this is a very important and serious topic. Suicides have become quite common here (in India). Suicides are prevalent in all age groups: students bogged down by low grades take the suicide route, people troubled by financial worries succumb to it, women caught in bad relationships use the suicide route.
I had no idea it was so prevalent in India too. So sad.
This is a very important topic. I used to teach suicide prevention education in local schools as part of a non-profit. I grew up with that education, but it was amazing to me to see some schools were resistant to it, thinking it would cause trouble. So sad that depression and suicide is so misunderstood, often by people who can directly affect prevention.
Hope you are enjoying the A to Z Challenge. Here’s my post for today on Memorable Characters.
I couldn’t agree more Stephanie. The stakes are too high not to talk about it.
I began to think about how many people I knew who had committed suicide and it was more than I thought. S is for Sobering.
It is sobering and all too common. Also startling is the fact we are losing up to 30 veterans a day to suicide. Something is broken.