Kacey Phillips, Freshman
There are nearly 800,000 people worldwide that commit suicide every year. Estimated, there were 1.38 million suicide attempts in 2019. September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Month and on the 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day. This month is dedicated to spreading hope and awareness to people affected by suicide. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death and the risk of it has increased 35% from 1999 to 2019. It is a priority to speak up and raise voices to educate families and individuals on how they can get a better understanding of how to prevent it.
Suicidal tendencies and mental illnesses can occur regardless of age, gender, sexuality, race, and background. Suicide happens a lot more than people realize but that does not mean it should be normalized. It is important to always acknowledge and make it a prime concern to help people who are struggling with mental health and having suicidal thoughts. In accordance to the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses, 4.8% of those who commit suicide are adults, 11.8% are young adults ages 18-25, 18.8% are high school students, and 46.8% are LGBTQ+ high school students. Additionally, the leading cause of suicide is depression with only half of individuals who committed suicide were diagnosed with a mental condition and only 90% had experienced symptoms.
Now more than ever it is necessary to spread the word about suicide awareness and be more open to discuss the topic even though it can be a scary one.
There are many ways to take action such as sharing your experiences and stories. Spreading hope, ambition, encouragement, and kindness to those who are fighting, additionally, can make a difference. It is important to know the symptoms that show someone may be suicidal; if they express verbal suicidal threats, say they feel hopeless or not caring about the future, make changes in appetite, sleep too little or too much, isolate themselves, and say “goodbye” to loved ones, it can be evident of suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know are having suicidal tendencies contact 911 or the suicidal hotline, 800-273-TALK (8255) right away.
Depression or other mental illnesses can be treated with psychotherapy, medication, hospitalization, support groups, and, of course, support from peers and loved ones. Suicide is an essential issue that needs to be discussed and addressed.
This September and all-year around, we encourage you to spread the word, start conversions, show vulnerability, and be unprejudiced to others' situations.
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Photo courtesy of: Harrisonburg-Rockingham community service board
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