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Six years ago, #RobinWilliams died by suicide, sending a wave of shock and grief around the world. People wanted answers. What we were left with was inadequate. Perhaps what Williams& #39; death underscored best is what many of us are often scared to admit: suicide can touch anyone.
Americans are more likely to die by their own hands, of their own will, than by someone else& #39;s. Yet suicides often go unacknowledged save for the celebrities. Even then, there is little more than a brief public outcry. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/surviving-suicide/2018/11/28/suicide-prevention-suicidal-thoughts-research-funding/971336002/">https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/...
Suicide is the nation& #39;s 10th-leading cause of death. While thousands of people die by suicide each year, millions think about it. In 2017, 10.6 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million made a plan, and 1.4 million attempted. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/01/30/u-s-suicide-rate-rose-again-2018-how-can-suicide-prevention-save-lives/4616479002/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/new...
Yet money to research and combat suicide continues to lag behind other leading killers and even non-fatal conditions. And this has an enormous in cost -- in suffering and in science. There is so much about suicide we do not know.
Experts are worried this public health crisis will worsen during the pandemic. "There are ramifications, sometimes fatal, with events like these that are not just related to getting infected or dying from infection," said Dr. Eric Caine. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/03/23/coronavirus-pandemic-isolation-fear-job-loss-triggers-suicide/2871949001/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/new...
When people are suffering, we often tell them to reach out, but in the pandemic many mental health professionals can& #39;t conduct in-person appointments, and not all patients can access virtual therapy even when it& #39;s offered.
Studies also show the majority of mental health professionals have minimal training in how to effectively treat suicidal people. Society has placed the burden of caring for suicidal people on a mental health workforce woefully underprepared to help them. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2020/02/27/suicide-prevention-therapists-rarely-trained-treat-suicidal-people/4616734002/">https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/...
Suicide is poorly understood, poorly funded, and still shrouded in stigma. But many people living with suicidal thoughts have found ways to cope with the underlying pain, ways to get through the hard days we all have. These are just some of them. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/surviving-suicide/2018/11/28/suicide-prevention-tips-true-stories-how-survivors-cope/1112169002/">https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/...
Survivors say that human connection is lifesaving. There are people out there who will listen to you, validate you, make space for your dark, sometimes terrifying thoughts without devolving into terror themselves. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2020/05/21/suicide-coronavirus-covid-19-peer-support-mental-health-help/2999404001/">https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/...
If you& #39;re struggling with suicidal thoughts, experts say you should create a personalized suicide safety plan, which outlines warning signs of a suicidal crisis, coping strategies and people to reach out to for support. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2018/11/28/suicide-prevention-if-youve-had-suicidal-thoughts-do-safety-plan/2018051002/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/new...
If you are seeking mental health care, here are tips for how you can begin to look for a qualified therapist. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/nation/2020/02/27/suicide-help-heres-how-find-therapist-if-youre-suicidal/4692072002/">https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/...
There& #39;s not one answer to what makes someone move from thinking about suicide to attempting, but feeling connected to other people can help. "Reaching out ... can save a life," said Jill Harkavy-Friedman, vice president of research @afspnational· https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/09/10/suicide-prevention-how-help-someone-who-suicidal/965640002/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/new...
If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at @800273TALK. You can also access text support through the @CrisisTextLine or locate peer support resources at http://warmline.org"> http://warmline.org .
