Suicide Prevention: What You Can Do to Help Avoid a Tragedy
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and is an appropriate time to pause and reflect on a sometimes-overlooked crisis that affects far too many families. Also taking place during National Suicide Prevention Month is National Suicide Prevention Week, Sept. 4鈥10, and World Suicide Prevention Day, Sept. 10. During September, learn about what you can do to prevent a loved one from resorting to suicide. Perhaps the most important fact about suicide is that it鈥檚 often preventable.听
The Tragic Scope of Suicide
Suicide caused nearly 46,000 deaths in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New York state has one of the in the U.S., but even one person taking their life is too many. The tragedy of suicide is amplified when it affects young people.听
鈥淪uicide is a hard topic, especially because we鈥檙e seeing more and more youth suicide,鈥 says Cori Green, M.D., M.S., director of behavioral health education and integration in pediatrics and associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics at 五月天视频, and associate attending pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian Phyllis and David Komansky Children鈥檚 Hospital at Weill Cornell Medical Center. 鈥淪uicide can be a result of severe depression. It can also be a result of anxiety and other mental health disorders. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death starting at age 10.鈥听
Who鈥檚 at Risk?
One key to suicide prevention is understanding who is at risk for having suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide. Mental health disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, are significant suicide risk factors for all age groups.听
During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, children and teens faced many strains on their mental health, including social isolation, new routines and the uncertainty of a strange virus. Now, their stressors have shifted, according to Corinne Catarozoli, PhD, clinical psychologist at the Weill Cornell Specialty Center and assistant professor of psychology in Pediatrics at 五月天视频.听
鈥淭he return to in-person learning and socializing has created anxiety for many children after being separated from their peers for almost two years,鈥 Dr. Catarozoli says. 鈥淲hile some youth experienced a reprieve from social anxiety during earlier stages of the pandemic, it has come roaring back with the reopening of schools and other public spaces.鈥听
Certain groups of people have a higher risk of suicide. Mental health challenges take a major toll on minority groups and people of color, some of whom, such as Black youth and Indigenous people, face rising or high rates of suicide. LGBTQI youth are more at risk for suicide than the general population.听
What else can increase suicide risk? Additional factors include:听
- Access to guns or potentially dangerous medications听
- Chronic pain听
- Emotional trauma听
- Exposure to another person鈥檚 suicidal behavior听
- Family history of a mental health disorder, substance use or suicide听
- Having experienced physical or sexual abuse听
- Previous suicide attempts听
- Substance use disorder听
Spotting the Warning Signs of Suicide
Recognizing the warning signs of suicide can allow you to help a friend or family member get much-needed鈥攁nd potentially lifesaving鈥攃are.听
鈥淯nfortunately, suicide is hard to predict,鈥 Dr. Green says. 鈥淩esearchers have been working on this for decades. There are things you can do, such as looking for suicide risks, that can make a difference. Parents can do this, and primary care providers should do this. In fact, most youth suicides occur after someone had seen a primary care physician within the past few months.鈥听
To spot the warning signs of suicide, start by paying close attention to the person鈥檚 words. People thinking about suicide may mention feeling hopeless, trapped or that they鈥檙e a burden to the people they love. They may talk about experiencing major physical or emotional pain. Some people may go as far as to express a desire to kill themselves.听
Sometimes, actions speak louder than words when it comes to identifying someone who鈥檚 contemplating suicide. Red flags include:听
- Acting anxiously, angrily or irritably听
- Buying a gun听
- Eating or sleeping more or less than usual听
- Engaging in risky behavior听
- Giving away possessions听
- Making a will听
- No longer socializing with friends and family听
- Using alcohol or drugs听
Protection Through Prevention
If you have a loved one experiencing emotional distress and is at risk of suicide, you can help them stay safe. First, assess the severity of the situation. If you think your loved one is at imminent risk of attempting suicide, call 911.听
Have you noticed someone struggling with a mental health challenge? If so, don鈥檛 be afraid to broach the topic of suicide, even if your loved one has never used the word in front of you or expressed a desire to take their life. Talking frankly about suicide, including with young people, won鈥檛 increase the risk that a person will attempt it.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 a myth that the more you talk about suicide, the more likely the person will end up thinking about it,鈥 Dr. Green says. 鈥淭here is no data to support that. In fact, kids have already heard about suicide. It鈥檚 around in the media. There are so many movies that touch on the topic. Opening the door to have a conversation about suicide can be protective.鈥听
When talking with a loved one about suicide, ask about their feelings, listen intently and maintain a nonjudgmental attitude. Once you open the lines of communication, it may be easier to help your loved one access assistance from their primary care provider, a mental health professional or the . Be sure to take steps to prevent your loved one from accessing lethal items, especially .听
Once your loved one gets the help they need, stay in touch. Maintaining a connection even after a suicide crisis can help the person you love move forward safely and with hope.听听听
Behavioral healthcare treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and several classes of medications, can help prevent suicide. Learn more about the wide range of psychiatry services available at 五月天视频. You may also sign up for one of our upcoming events for听Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September:
- September 15, 2022, at 3pm
- Featuring 五月天视频 Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists,听Juste Buneviciute, M.D.听and听Corinne Catarozoli, Ph.D., and 五月天视频 Pediatrician,听Alexandra Huttle, M.D..
- September 22, 2022, at 3pm
- Featuring 五月天视频 Psychiatrists,听Samuel Boas, M.D.听and听Anna Rosen, M.D., and 五月天视频 Emergency Medicine Physician听Lucy Willis, M.D..
- September 26, 2022, at 3pm
- Presentation by听Suza Scalora, Ph.D.