The 36th Annual National Suicide Prevention Week is taking place this week, the week of 5-11 September. National Suicide Prevention Week is set aside as a time to focus on the serious health challenge that suicide is and to promote awareness that suicide is a public health problem that is preventable. This year’s theme is “Families, Community Systems and Suicide.”
In 2006, suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 33,300 deaths. The overall rate was 10.9 suicide deaths per 100,000 people. An estimated 12 to 25 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death.
Suicidal behavior is complex. Some risk factors vary with age, gender, or ethnic group and may occur in combination or change over time.
Research shows that risk factors for suicide include:
- depression and other mental disorders, or a substance-abuse disorder (often in combination with other mental disorders),
- prior suicide attempt,
- family history of mental disorder or substance abuse,
- family history of suicide,
- family violence, including physical or sexual abuse,
- firearms in the home (the method used in more than half of suicides),
- incarceration,
- exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, such as family members, peers, or media figures.
However, suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress; many people have these risk factors, but are not suicidal. Research also shows that the risk for suicide is associated with changes in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, including serotonin. Decreased levels of serotonin have been found in people with depression, impulsive disorders, and a history of suicide attempts, and in the brains of suicide victims.
Experts believe that most suicidal individuals do not want to die. They just want to end the pain they are experiencing. Experts also know that suicidal crises tend to be brief. When suicidal behaviors are detected early, lives can be saved. This year’s National Suicide Prevention Week theme, “Families, Community Systems and Suicide,” is designed to serve as a reminder that there are services available in our communities for the assessment and treatment of suicidal behaviors and their underlying causes.
Some resources related to suicide prevention:
HHS/SAMHSA: National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
American Association of Suicidology
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Rhode Island Department of Health: Suicide Prevention Planning
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