Student Tribune
September: National Suicide Awareness Month
As we begin the Fall 2020 semester, there is an opportunity to carve out
space to prioritize self-care and to promote positive mental health. September
is National Suicide Awareness Month; the Counseling Center and Disability
Services office will be highlighting the following topics during National
Suicide Prevention week, which takes place from September 6th - September 12th
this year:
Tuesday, September 8th: We can Prevent Suicide: Know the Risk Factors &
Warning Signs
Wednesday: September 9th: QPR Training Resource & How to Take Action
Thursday, September 10th: National Suicide Prevention Day: Highlighting
Resources & Healthy Lifestyle Tips
Friday, September 11th: Mental Health Screening Tools
The facts and statistics surrounding suicide, many of which will be
highlighted in the media this month, may be alarming. Please reach out if you
are in need of support. According to Mental Health America, suicide is the 10th
leading cause of death in the U.S., and it is the second leading cause of death
among individuals aged 15-24 years old. There is a great need for more suicide
prevention efforts. We can start by spreading awareness, providing safe spaces
for conversations to occur, debunking myths, and fighting to reduce the stigma
surrounding suicide.
Additional facts from Mental Health America:
- There is a death by suicide every 25 attempts.
- Previous suicide attempts are a risk factor for a future attempt.
- Individuals with substance abuse disorder are 6x more likely to complete
suicide
- More years of life are lost to suicide than to any other single cause
(excluding heart disease and cancer).
Facts from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
- In 2018, 48,344 Americans died by suicide.
- There were an estimated 1.4 million suicide attempts in 2018.
- Men died by suicide 3.56x times more often than women in 2018.
- On average, 132 Americans die by suicide every day.
- In 2017, the death by suicide rate was 1.5x higher for Veterans than
non-Veterans over the age of 18 years old.
- In 2018, 1.4 million Americans attempted suicide.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is a
preventable public health problem even though it is considered a leading cause
of death in the United States. Every suicide attempt should be treated
seriously; no attempt should be ignored or dismissed. The most common disorder
underlying suicide is depression, as 30%-70% of suicide survivors are diagnosed
with major depression or bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder. There is help,
there is hope, and we can help get people connected to the supports they
need.
Additional Resources:
You May Also Visit Your:
- Primary care provider
- Local walk-in clinic
- Local psychiatric emergency department
- Local urgent care center
Kindly,
Counseling Center & Disability Services Office
Phone: (585) 292-2140
Email: counselingservices@monroecc.edu & disabilityservices@monroecc.edu
Lee, Stephanie
Counseling Center & Disability Services
09/01/2020