Suicide on the rise

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in almost every state, suicide rates are on the rise. Nearly 45,000 people, ages 10 and over, committed suicide in 2016. Each year about 500,000 people are treated in emergency rooms secondary to self-inflicted injuries. With the recent back-to-back deaths of prominent celebrities such as Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, the discussions around suicide, suicide prevention and even media coverage of suicide have reached a new level of urgency. People are asking “Why did this happen?” and “Could this outcome have been avoided?”

For many years, mental illness discussion, especially in the black community, has been considered taboo. No one wanted to bring it up and no one would ever suggest that a family member needed to take medication or see a psychiatrist. We’ve all experienced the hushed whispers at gatherings, but deep within we knew more needed to be done to help that particular loved one.

Though I am saddened by this increase in suicide rates, I am encouraged by the additional attention it is bringing to mental health. There seems to be a heightened sense of awareness, particularly around social media. Students, teachers and friends are finally taking Facebook and Twitter posts seriously. “I hate my life!” may seem like an innocent rant to you but statements like that are generally the tip of the iceberg as it relates to that individual’s state of mind.

We each have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our community. Our young people are experiencing a different set of stressors that older generations did not have to endure. We did not have mini-computers in our hands and our televisions literally cut off at midnight. Does anyone remember that? The 24-hour news cycle that we are in now constantly bombards us with violence, bickering among politicians and natural disasters. When was the last time you were able to watch an entire day of television without hearing negative news?

However, as we have seen recently, depression does not discriminate as it relates to age, gender, or ethnicity. Bullying, financial hardships, marital discord, and work tension are all contributors to feelings of depression and stress. If left unchecked, these problems could escalate depressive symptoms and lead to suicide. Therefore, it is so important to recognize the warning signs.

Isolation- Anytime you notice that someone is no longer wanting to be social and is choosing to stay locked up in their rooms. Think depression.
Mood changes- All of a sudden, did your teen start wearing black everyday or did they become increasingly irritable with everybody in the house? Think depression.
Morbid conversation- Have you noticed that your spouse is preoccupied with death and do they make comments like they would be better off dead? Think depression.
Excessive alcohol use, illicit drug use, appetite changes- Are they drinking more than usual? Sleeping more? Eating less? Think depression.

Common risk factors for suicide include: