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What We Know

When discussing statistics of suicide, there are three terms that are important to understand. Suicide is the death that is caused by self-directed injury with the intent of death. Efforts of this harmful behavior is considered a suicide attempt. Lastly, things such as thoughts, considerations and planning for suicide are considered suicidal ideation [1]. As of reports in 2018, suicide was the 10th leading cause of death claiming over 48,000 lives. Between a 20-year span from 1999 and 2018, the total suicide rate has increase by 35%. In 2019 reports indicate there were 12 million adults in the United States that had serious thoughts of suicide. That year, 3.5 million adults had made suicide plans and 1.4 million adults attempted suicide [1]. Through surveys, 95% of people indicate they would do something if they knew someone close to them was thinking about suicide. It is assumed top barriers that keep a loved one knowing about an individual’s suicidal thoughts are because the individual feels nothing will help them, there is a lack of hope, feelings of embarrassment, not knowing how to get help, feeling a lack of social support, fear of disappointing others, social stigma, and being unable to afford treatment or fear of losing his or her job [2].

How It Affects Our World

Mental illness affects one in five adults in the United States. Of those mental illnesses depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, substance abuse, and mental illness in the LGBTQ+ community consistently show they are highly affecting rates of suicide [3]. Suicide can have a ripple effect. Individuals who are impacted the most are those closest to the person who died such as family, friends, coworkers, or classmates. However, people in the individual’s community can also be affected such as members of a faith community, teachers, staff, other peers, or service providers. Lastly, people can be affected by a suicide death who were not even part of the individual’s life such as emergency responders, medical personnel, or clergy helping provide support around the family and community of the individual. As a result, there is an approximate 115 people who are affected by each individual suicide. One out of five of those affected have a devastating impact on his or her life that resulted in a major-life disruption [4].

What We Can Do About It

At Finding The Light Project we will always highly recommend professional medical and mental health providers as the foundation of treatment. Beyond that, we are here to provide you with knowledge, theological reasoning and encouragement. We invite you to subscribe and explore how you can find light in the darkness. It’s time to find hope and happiness once again!

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or Text 9-8-8

Resources

[1] National Institute of Mental Health (2020). Suicide. Washington DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml

[2] The Harris Poll (August, 2020). Suicide Prevention Survey Results. Harris Insights & Analytics LLC. Retrieved from https://www.datocms-assets.com/12810/1603916624-suicideandmentalhealthpublicperceptionsurveyfinalreportaugust2020.pdf

[3] Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (2020). Mental illness and suicide. Retrieved from https://save.org/about-suicide/mental-illness-and-suicide/

[4] Sandler, E. P. (September, 2018). The ripple effect of suicide. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/September-2018/The-Ripple-Effect-of-Suicide

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