WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022 - MENTAL HEALTH WEEK - DAY 3 SUICIDE

 WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022 - MENTAL HEALTH WEEK - DAY 3 SUICIDE

This week I’ve been looking at Mental Health as part of Mental Health Month.  

From a recent news article: (repeat from Monday)

“Ashley Judd and her family wanted the world to hear from them how Naomi Judd died.

The younger Judd appeared in an interview with Diane Sawyer, which aired on Thursday on "Good Morning America." She said her family had agreed that she shared the cause of death of her mother.

"She used a weapon," Ashley Judd said. "A firearm. So that's the piece of information we are very uncomfortable sharing."

She and her sister Wynonna Judd announced on April 30 that they had lost their mother "to the disease of mental illness." She was 76.

*****

From the AFSP - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:2020 data:
-The age-adjusted suicide rate in 2020 was 13.48 per 100,000 individuals.

-The rate of suicide is highest in middle-aged white men.

-In 2020, men died by suicide 3.88x more than women.

-On average, there are 130 suicides per day.

-White males accounted for 69.68% of suicide deaths in 2020.

-In 2020, firearms accounted for 52.83% of all suicide deaths.

Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the US

In 2020, 45,979 Americans died by suicide

In 2020, there were an estimated 1.20M suicide attempts
(Note, only 45,979 were successful - but with 1,200,000 so many people are hurting mentally and emotionally.)

*****

Teenagers are especially prone to suicide:

“Suicide is our most preventable public health problem, yet in 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that suicide claimed the lives of 6,796 American youths between the ages of 10 and 24, making up 14 percent of all suicides for that year.”

The article suggests that number is grossly underestimated because of the undue stigma associated with death in that manner.

AND …. “The American Association of Suicidology estimates that for every one youth death by suicide, there are between 100 and 200 attempts. 17.2 percent of U.S. high school students reported that they had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.

And, at the other end of the age scale, older adults, in particular, suicide is a significant concern: While older adults comprise just 12% of the population, they make up approximately 18% of suicides.

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Okay, Karen - you’ve made your point - there are too many people killing themselves.

What can cause suicides?

The CDC (Center for Disease Controls) lists these 12 reasons:

Feeling like a burden

Being isolated

Increased anxiety

Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

Increased substance use

Looking for a way to access lethal means

Increased anger or rage

Extreme mood swings

Expressing hopelessness

Sleeping too little or too much

Talking or posting about wanting to die

Making plans for suicide

For me, I had been asked to leave my home, I was isolated, I was sick, I didn't have a future (hopelessness), and my family found me to be a burden - and I didn’t want to be a burden to them or to anybody.  I needed a purpose in my life.  (In some respects, doing a daily blog is having some purpose in my life!!)

For me, I found hope - I had value, but somehow I had to let it grow (not decrease).  Yes, I “preach” about LOVE WINS.  I say “I can only love God as much as the person I love the least”, and I’m learning - if I am to love my neighbor as myself, that starts with loving myself - and I needed to find value and ways to love myself.

*****

Okay, Karen - but I’m not suicidal.  That’s fantastic -but watch for the CDC warning signs.  Sure your children/grandchildren might act normal but deep inside they need YOUR love.  Build them up, let them know you think they have value and are really loved.

Don’t let depression put you or a loved one at the bottom of a well, don’t let hate overwhelm you, and don’t let the world get you down. Let LOVE WIN!!!

Karen

May 18, 2022