Suicide: an uncomfortable topic for many of us, but the fatal reality for 42,773 Americans each year. Every 12.3 minutes in the U.S., a life is lost to suicide and for every one of those lives lost, 25 others attempt to take their own. It is the second leading cause of death for America's youth and the 10th overall. Over 750,000 people are intimately affected by a suicide every single year. As citizens of a society plagued by these senseless deaths, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves and others about the consequences of suicide and be fully aware of its warning signs.
People who commit or attempt suicide tend to display one or more of the following warning signs: increased use of drugs or alcohol, acting recklessly, withdrawing from their social life, saying goodbye to loved ones, talking about being a burden, expressing that they have no reason to live and are experiencing unbearable pain, sudden changes in sleeping habits, giving away prized possessions or displaying sudden changes in their normal moods. Because everyone has a different "normal," it is important for friends and family to look out for these changes in behavior and take action when necessary.
Suicide is 100 percent preventable, but there are many misconceptions surrounding it. Most people think of suicide as a last resort for those who are going through negative life experiences, but the main cause of suicide is actually untreated depression, which anyone can be genetically predisposed to. Seeking treatment for mental illness could drastically lower the amount of suicides. The most vulnerable people to die by suicide are young white men, but women are more likely to attempt. Suicide is a bigger threat to the lives of Americans than homicide is; as aforementioned, suicide is the 10th overall cause of death, while homicide is the 17th.
Understanding the severity and prominence of suicide in the U.S. is important to combat these senseless deaths, but we should also understand the consequences. Although it is extremely difficult to put a dollar value on a human life, there are economic consequences to suicide. In the state of Montana, which has the highest rate of suicide in all of the U.S., suicide costs $253,380,000 of combined lifetime medical and work loss per year which equates to an average of $1,116,213 per suicide death. Suicide is not only tragic, but costly to our society.
Suicide is 100 percent preventable and therefore should not make an appearance on the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. Education and early detection are key to saving lives. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, click here.
