Suicide By The Numbers
Studies have shown that about 20 million people have suicidal thoughts. The rate of people with suicidal thoughts has increased numerously throughout the past years. Annually about a million people die from suicide. Studies have shown that women have attempted suicide more than men but men are more likely to complete the attempt of suicide.
What Causes Suicide And Suicidal Thoughts
Suicidal thoughts can lead to suicide. The feeling of not being able to cope with emotions and thoughts in an overwhelming or challenging life situation is a high cause of suicidal thoughts and the urge of suicide may start. The feeling that there’s no hope for one’s future can also cause suicide and suicidal thoughts. Bullying may lead to suicidal thoughts and then to suicide itself.
Suicide Prevention Month
September is known to be the national suicide prevention month. This month is to prevent and give awareness to people about suicide so that no one suffers alone or passes away from suicide. Awareness is important because we can prevent someone from taking their own life. Something as simple as hearing someone out with their problems can be a change in someone’s life between a decision of life and death.
Suicide Prevention At Southeast
Ms. Moreno and other social workers had a suicide prevention/awareness week at our school. When asked what suicide prevention means, Ms. Moreno said, “It is to bring awareness about the topic, there’s a lot of students who are struggling with mental illnesses and their emotional struggles. These thoughts about suicide we want to make sure that there is awareness that they are not alone and that there will be help out there and for us to be able to see the signs.”
When asked why this prevention is so important she said, “It’s important because we don’t want any students to feel like they’re alone and we want them to know that there is so much support out there and that they don’t have to deal with whatever is going on by themselves.”
When asked what made her decide to do this prevention at our school, she said, “Part of the stuff that I do is working to bring awareness to mental health and we want to make sure that kids normalize mental health and normalize asking for help and that no kid dies by suicide anymore.”
Awareness And Symptoms
When noticing these symptoms popping up in someone we gain awareness that someone may struggle with suicidal thoughts. These symptoms may not apply to everyone or may not be as obvious.
Symptoms: Talking about suicide, mood swings, feeling hopeless and desperate, doing self-destructive and risky things that could take one’s life, self-harming, a loved one’s loss, conflicts, depression, etc.
For more information or help with suicide topics or questions please head to the wellness center in room 122. Help will always be available hotline for suicide prevention are 988 and 1-888-628-9454 both are national suicide lifelines. If something seems very severe do not hesitate in asking for help.