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#SeptemberisNationalSuicidePreventionMonth – Why Do People Die By #Suicide?
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Every 11 minutes, someone dies by #suicide. Learn about who is at risk for #suicidalideation, why someone may want to end their life, and what you can do to help.
By Sarah Schuster
#Suicide is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the #UnitedStates, with one person taking their life every 11 minutes.¹ #Suicidalideation, or the experience of having #suicidalthoughts and urges, is even more common. While tens of thousands of people die by #suicide every year, it’s estimated that millions of people consider #suicide, plan a #suicideattempt, or attempt #suicide and survive.
Understanding why people die by #suicide or experience #suicidalthoughts is complicated. While understanding the “why” is only one part of #suicideprevention, it can help us act more compassionately toward those who experience #suicidalthoughts, give comfort to those who have lost someone to #suicide, and better understand the pain of people who experience suicidality.
Why We Don’t Say ‘Commit’ #Suicide
The language we use when we talk about #suicide matters. For example, despite its common usage, experts now advise against using the phrase “committed #suicide.” Instead, we should use the more neutral phrases, “died by #suicide” or “take their own life.”8Saying someone “committed” #suicide stigmatizes the act of dying by #suicide and makes it sound as if someone committed a crime.
Similarly, it’s important to avoid framing someone’s #suicideattempt as “successful” or “unsuccessful.” Surviving a #suicideattempt is not a failure and dying by #suicide is not a success. Instead, you can simply state if the person died or survived after a #suicideattempt.
When talking about someone’s #suicide, it is also recommended to avoid sharing details about the #suicide method, such as how the person died. Knowing where or how a #suicide happened can contribute to #suicidecontagion, a phenomenon where one #suicide death leads to many more.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Part of what makes #suicide so complicated is that no sole factor can predict with high accuracy who will actually die by #suicide. 2 However, recognizing possible signs of #suicidalthoughts and screening people for #suicidalideation can help us better understand the risk.
It is important to know that dying by #suicide is not caused by weakness, a personality flaw, or selfishness. These are stigmatized explanations of why #suicide happens and can discourage people experiencing #suicidalthoughts from asking for help.
Instead, those who die by #suicide were likely exposed to biological, environmental, and social risk factors that made them vulnerable to #suicidalthoughts. Some risk factors may include:2
Having a family member die by #suicide
Easy access to materials and methods that can kill you
#Stigma around #mentalhealth and reaching out for support
There is so much more we need to learn about #suicide and how to prevent #suicide deaths. As new research comes out, additional risk factors may also be added.
Reasons People Die by #Suicide
We often can’t exactly determine what led to a #suicide death. But, some people who have attempted #suicide or have had #suicidalthoughts can help us understand why they wanted to end their life. Here is what we know.
#MentalIllness
Having a #mentalillness can increase the risk of dying by #suicide, but the relationship between the two isn’t always that simple. To understand the connection between #mentalillness and #suicide, it can be helpful to look at how #mentalillness affects someone’s quality of life. Some ways that #mentalillness can contribute to #suicide include:4,5
Unequal access to #mentalhealthcare and treatment
Lack of social support or feeling like you don’t have anybody to go to
Feeling isolated, lonely, or misunderstood
Difficulty maintaining relationships
Decreased quality of life due to increased #stress, (e.g., being unable to maintain a job)
Increased impulsivity, which may occur in those with #borderlinepersonalitydisorder
Some #mentalhealthconditions, like #depression and #substanceusedisorder, are most commonly associated with #suicide. However, other conditions like #anxietydisorders, #eatingdisorders, and #personalitydisorders may also increase #suiciderisk.3
History of #Trauma
Experiencing #trauma can significantly affect you at any age. However, #childhood #trauma is one of the more significant long-term risk factors for #suicide.2 Some examples of #childhood #trauma include emotional neglect, physical abuse, losing a #parent, #sexualassault, and #bullying. Unfortunately, these risk factors are accumulative, meaning the more traumatic life events you experience, the higher your risk of attempting #suicide.
#Trauma can impact us long into our #adult years, causing challenges like #posttraumaticstressdisorder (#PTSD), #depression, low #self-esteem, shame, #isolation, and attachment issues that can make it hard to maintain relationships.
Circumstantial Challenges
Challenging real-life stressors can lead to #suicidalthoughts and increase someone’s chances of dying by #suicide.2,4 This can especially be true if someone lacks the skills or social support to cope with stress. Examples of challenging situations that can put someone at risk for #suicide include:
Facing legal challenges
Losing a job
Overwhelming #financial troubles
Going through a break-up or losing a significant relationship
Death of a loved one death
Feelings of #Hopelessness
Generally, people who are suicidal feel hopeless and pessimistic about their future. While it’s typical to experience an occasional feeling of #hopelessness, people at risk for #suicide are more likely to experience rumination—meaning they may get stuck on repetitive, negative feelings or have recurring thoughts about death.2
Feeling like you’re a burden to the people in your life or like you don’t belong anywhere in the world are two other powerful emotions associated with #suicide.6
Identity
#Gender, #race, #sexualorientation, and age all impact #suiciderisk. While women attempt #suicide more often than #men, #men die by #suicide at higher rates.2 Across all genders, most #suicides occur between the ages of 35 and 44, although age-related risks differ across #ethnicity. For example, #Black and #Latino populations are more likely to die by #suicide at earlier ages than their white counterparts.
Certain marginalized communities, like people in the #LGBTQIA community, have a higher risk for #suicide. Studies show that up to 43% of #transgender people have reported attempting #suicide.2 It’s important to note that being #transgender is not a #suicideriskfactor. #Trans people often experience discrimination, #bullying, and #stigma—all of which can increase #suiciderisk.
People with disabilities are at-risk for #suicide as well. One survey found people with disabilities are three times more likely to report #suicidalideation compared to people without disabilities.7
#Veterans, people who live in #ruralareas, and Indigenous communities are also disproportionately impacted by #suicide.7 #Suicide does not discriminate when it comes to identity, but the trauma exposure, #stress, discrimination, and societal challenges that certain groups face may put them more at risk.
How to Help Someone Who May Be Suicidal
If someone you love is struggling with #suicidalthoughts or urges, there are some things you can do.
Don’t Panic
#Suicidalthoughts can exist on a spectrum. Having a loved one open up about their #suicidalthoughts doesn’t always mean they are in immediate danger. Ask if they have a #suicide plan or access to items they may use to harm themselves. This information can help you understand their level of risk. Remember: Asking someone about their #suicidalthoughts will not increase their risk of #suicide, so don’t be afraid to ask directly.
Listen to Them
Simply sitting with someone in their pain can be powerful. You likely won’t be able to solve all the factors contributing to their #suicidalthoughts in one conversation, but don’t dismiss the power of listening. Oftentimes, feeling connected to someone or something can temporarily heal feelings of #hopelessness and disconnect caused by #suicidalthoughts.
Remove Any Lethal Means From the Home
If you live in the same space as someone experiencing #suicidalthoughts, consider removing or securing any dangerous items in your home. This could look like locking up a gun or removing sharp objects from the kitchen.
Encourage Them to Access Crisis Resources
If someone you love is feeling suicidal, you can encourage them to call the #NationalSuicidePreventionHotline at 988, or text HOME to 741741 to access the Crisis Text Line. Through these resources, they can chat with a trained crisis #counselor who can help you and your loved one figure out the appropriate next step. You can also call these crisis resources yourself if you’re concerned about your loved one’s safety.
Here are additional resources that can help you support a loved one:
Local resources may also be available. Resources differ based on your home city or state. You may also consider searching online for local resources that can support you or your loved one.
Summary
#Suicide is a public health issue that affects millions of people, yet so many conversations about #suicide are riddled with misunderstanding and shame. There is still so much to learn about why people die by #suicide and how we can prevent suicides from occurring. #Suicide is complicated and is often due to many factors working together. Living with a #mentalillness, a history of trauma, and life challenges can all make someone more likely to die by #suicide. Fortunately, there are some ways you can support someone who is suicidal, including listening to them, removing dangerous items, and helping them access crisis resources.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, there’s help available. Call 911 for emergency services or reach out to the #NationalSuicidePreventionLine at 988 for support with #mentalhealthcrises.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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