Recently I attended a seminar on suicide prevention. The most recent statistics (taken from the 2005 data from American Association of Suicidology) are staggering:
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There are 33,000 suicides per year.
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Suicide accounts for more deaths than homicide.
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60% of us will personally know someone who dies by suicide.
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Montana has the highest rate of suicide in the United States.
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Rate of suicide increases with age.
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1100 college students die by suicide (20-24 years).
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There are 832,500 reported suicide attempts per year.
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Women attempt 3 times more than men.
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Men die by suicide 4 times more than women.
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There are many reasons why people die by suicide including history of depression, drugs, previous attempts, etc.
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There are many warning signs of suicide. People may directly talk about suicide, have signs of depression, be socially isolated, and have a plan for suicide.
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It is important to understand both the myths and facts of suicide.
Resources:
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-877-727-4747
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK
Teen Line: 1-800-852-8336 (6 PM to 10 PM)
Trevor Line (LGBTQ): 1-866-488-7386
Department of Mental Health: 1-310-895-2326
[...] and Alexander McQueen (fashion designer)) once again remind us of the seriousness of the issue. Suicide statistics have reported more than 832,500 suicide attempts per year. Understanding suicide begins with [...]