Suicide Prevention
The Wellness Council of Greater Colorado Valley September is National Suicide Awareness Month.
For some people, feelings of deep depression, paralyzing anxiety or feeling overwhelmed becomes the constant backdrop to their life. An individual may start thinking their situation is hopeless and there is no way out. The downward spiral may eventually lead to thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior, which includes talking about suicide or taking action to end one’s life.
The numbers are staggering! Every Day in the U.S., approximately 123 people die by suicide, making it the 10th leading cause of death (all ages).
Suicide Rates In Texas Throughout the State of Texas, suicide is the:
• 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-34
• 4th leading cause of death for ages 35-44
• 5th leading cause of death for ages 45-54
• 9th leading cause of death for ages 55-64
• 17th leading cause of death for ages 65+ Overall, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the state, and Texas is ranked 38th in the nation for its suicide rate.
Teenagers and young adults have the highest rates of suicide compared to other ages.The things that make them vulnerable are where they stand socially and where they stand developmentally.
• Developmentally, their judgment and decision-making abilities are still coming online. The prefrontal cortex — the brain’s executive control center — doesn’t fully develop until one is in their mid-20s. That makes young people more impulsive. They’re not going to weigh risks and consequences nor weigh ethics and values in the same way that older folks will.
Socially, teens and young adults don’t have the same connections older adults do. Someone who is married, has a longterm partner or has children or grandchildren is in a different place socially than someone who is just coming into their own, living with parents, roommates or alone first the first time. And we also have the devastating negative impact of the isolation of the COVID pandemic which has exacerbated social disconnection even more, and rates of suicide have increased since the beginning of the pandemic.
• Nearly 20% of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide and 9% have made an attempt to take their lives.
Children And Suicide When we look at the children in the United States, the rates of suicide attempts and deaths among children have increased over the past decade.
• Alarmingly, suicide is now the eighth leading cause of death in our precious children age 5–11.
• And we know clearly that suicidal thoughts or actions, even in very young children, are a sign of extreme distress and should not be ignored.
• All of this data is available from the Mental Health America: www.mhanational.org/ conditions/suicide The Center for Suicide Prevention and Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found in a recent study of 134 children who committed
suicide ages 5-11:
• The average age was 10.5 years, primarily white boys although girls and other races were definitely in the number of children had died by suicide.
• Suicide deaths occurred in the family home 95.5% and more specifically, in the child’s bedroom 65.6% of the time.
• The most common way children died by suicide was by hanging - 78.4%, although a significant number of children died by using a firearm (18.7%) which was readily available.
Additional research showed
that: Mental health concerns were identified in a third (31.4%) of the suicide deaths examined and the most common diagnoses being ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or Depression.
Trauma, including suspected or confirmed cases of abuse, neglect, and domestic violence, was seen in more than a quarter (27.1%) of children; and thosen who were reported to have experienced trauma, almost half (40.6%) had experienced multiple traumatic events.
Family-related problems, such as divorce, custody disputes, parental substance use, or a family history of suicide or mental health concerns, were seen in more than a third (39.8%) of children who had died by suicide Our schools identify and work with children with a variety of problems and disorders each and every day. Too often the schools are expected to solve these problems because an emotionally disturbed student has been expelled, suspended or sent to an alternative school. However, it is clear that the problems that are seen in the children while at school, except for rare cases, are within the child’s psychological makeup (which include mental health disorders) or from problems in the home.
Important to note is that in this study on children who had committed suicide, that a history of suicidal thoughts was present for almost a quarter (24.3%) of children who died by suicide.
While a small number of children made a suicidal statement on the day of their death (11%); Most children who died by suicide had made a suicidal statement in the past (79.6%).
The reality is that society and parents must pay attention to children who are struggling; these children have many anxieties and overwhelming negative feelings without the developmental capabilities of doing anything about the way they feel. They need help. They must have help by the adults in their lives and they need professional mental health treatment.
But not all people who are considering suicide appear outwardly upset or depressed. Infact, not all suicides are attributable to Depression, which is indeed a risk factor. But only about half of people who take their lives had Depression.
Individuals who are self-reliant and consider this attribute as their greatest strength, will do all they can to take care of themselves. Because they feel that they must rely on this inner core of strength, they can have real difficulty asking for help. They have a private sense of pride about their independence and will do everything they can to protect this.
Many of these individuals have a vulnerable self-esteem, which can be hidden behind their presentation of strength and being in control. Their selffeelings of vulnerability require ongoing protection and promotion leaving them at a higher risk for suicide.
And everyone has a breaking point.
To be continued next Friday