Every 40 Seconds Someone Takes Their Own Life

We observe World Suicide Prevention Day each year on September 10. It’s a growing problem and the numbers tell a shocking story.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 29 and for every suicide that results in death, there are as many as 40 attempted suicides. What we know for sure is that there’s a lot to live for. Check out National Suicide Prevention Month for more information.

This year’s theme is all about ‘Creating Hope Through Action.’

Call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

• 1960 – ​​The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) starts in Vienna.
• 1977 – For his active research and numerous publications in esteemed journals in the field of suicide prevention, Erwin Stengel is given this prestigious award. To be nominated for this award, one has to be active in research for at least 10 years.
• 1992 – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) starts establishing crisis centers across the USA to instill hope in those who have suicidal thoughts.
• 2001 – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) creates the country’s first program aimed at serving all persons at risk of suicide in the U.S. via local, certified crisis centers.
• 2003 – ​The World Health Organization (WHO) and the ​​International Association for Suicide Prevention organize the first World Suicide Prevention Day.
• 2009 – To sensitize the public even further, IASP comes up with this theme and reiterates the point that although suicide is impulsive, the reasons that might have pushed someone to consider it varies according to different cultures. Countries like Latin America have reportedly the lowest numbers of self-inflicted deaths.
• 2014 – The first WHO World Suicide Report, “Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative,” aims to make suicide prevention a high priority on the global public health agenda.
• 2017 – the famous rapper Logic created awareness of the suicide helpline number through his song, ‘1-800-273-8255.’ The song which is about a person who seeks help for his suicidal thoughts created an uptick in the number of calls to suicide helpline numbers. Around the same time, reports of celebrity deaths increased suicides by 13%.
• Every 40 seconds someone takes their own life according to the World Health Organization (WHO). That’s about 800,000 people worldwide every year — although some estimates put that number closer to 1 million.
• Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. It affects all age groups equally
• Caucasian ethnic groups have the highest suicide rate in the United States.
• Just about every 12 minutes someone kills themselves in America.
• 30% – the percentage increase in the rate of death by suicide in the U.S. between 2000 and 2016.
• 50% – the percentage increase in suicides among girls and women between 2000 and 2016.
• 10 – the ranking of suicide as the leading cause of death in the U.S.
• 47,511 – the number of Americans who died by suicide in 2019.
• 1.38 million – the number of suicide attempts in the U.S. in 2019.
• 13.93 – the age-adjusted suicide rate per 100,000 individuals.
• 3.63x – the number of times that men have had higher suicide rates than women in recent years.
• 69.38% – the percentage of white males who accounted for suicide deaths in 2019.
• 50.39% – the percentage of all suicides by firearms.
• 93% – the percentage of Americans surveyed who think suicide can be prevented.
• 1 in 15 American adults suffer from depression but the good news is that 80-90% of people respond positively to treatment if depression is correctly diagnosed.
• Suicide is most common among people between the ages of 45 and 64.
• What you can do:
  • Be a Conversation Starter: Grab a cozy corner at your favorite coffee shop or pick up the phone. Chatting about mental health can be a game-changer.
  • Digital Warrior: Transform your social media into a beacon of hope. Share stories, facts, and supportive messages using the hashtag #WSPD.
  • Workplace Wellness Whisperer: Why not turn your workplace into a sanctuary of support? Host a lunch-and-learn or a virtual meet-up focused on mental health.
  • Listen Like a Pro: Master the art of listening. It’s not just about hearing words; it’s about understanding the silence in between.
  • Encourage the Journey: Nudge friends, family, or even strangers to seek help if they need it. Sometimes, it takes a gentle push for someone to see the light at the end of their tunnel.

Sources:

National Today