Understanding Suicide

Suicide occurs when a person ends their life. It is the 10th leading cause of death among Americans.  But suicide deaths are only part of the problem. More people survive suicide attempts then actually die. They are often seriously injured and need medical care. 

 

Most people feel uncomfortable talking about suicide. Often victims are blamed. Their friends, families, and communities are left devastated.

 

Why is suicide a public health problem?

• More than 48,000 people kill themselves each year.
• More than 400,000 people with self-inflicted injuries are treated in emergency rooms each year.
• The ratio of 11 people experiencing devastation effects persuade “”””””:
• Eleven new people experiencing devastation every 11 minutes of 1419 every day.

 

How does suicide affect health?

Suicide, by definition, is fatal. Those who attempt suicide and survive may have serious injuries like broken bones, brain damage, or organ failure. Also, people who survive often have depression and other mental health problems.

 

Suicide also affects the health of the community. Family and friends of people who commit suicide may feel shock, anger, guilt, and depression. The medical costs and lost wages associated with suicide also take their toll on the community.

 

Who is at risk for suicide?

Suicide affects everyone, but some groups are at higher risk than others. Men are about four times more likely than women to die from suicide.

 However, three times more women than men report attempting suicide. In addition, suicide rates are high among middle aged and older adults.

 Several factors can put a person at risk for attempting or committing suicide. But, having these risk factors does not always mean that suicide will occur.

 

Risk factors for suicide include:

 

• Previous suicide attempt(s)
• History of depression or other mental illness
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Family history of suicide or violence
• Physical illness
• Feeling alone

 

Note: These are only some risk factors. To learn more, go to www.cdc.gov/injury/violenceprevention

 

How can we prevent suicide?

The goal is to stop suicide attempts.

 

Learn the warning signs of suicide

Warning signs can include changes in a person’s mood, diet, or sleeping pattern. The American Association of Suicidology (www.suicidology.org) has detailed information on what to look for and how to respond.

 

Get involved in community efforts

The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention lays out a plan for action. It guides the development of programs and seeks to bring about social change. For more information, go to http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA01-3517

 

How does CDC approach prevention?

CDC uses a 4-step approach to address public health problems like suicide.

 

 

Step 1: Define the problem

Before we can prevent suicide, we need to know how big the problem is, where it is, and whom it affects. CDC learns about a problem by gathering and studying data. These data are critical because they help decision makers send resources where they are needed most.

 

Step 2: Identify risk and protective factors

It is not enough to know that suicide affects certain people in certain areas. We also need to know why. CDC conducts and supports research to answer this question. We can then develop programs to reduce or get rid of risk factors.

 

Step 3: Develop and test prevention strategies

Using information gathered in research, CDC develops and evaluates strategies to prevent suicide.

 

Step 4: Ensure widespread adoption

In this final step, CDC shares the best prevention strategies. CDC may also provide funding or technical help so communities can adopt these strategies.

 

For a list of CDC activities, see Preventing Suicide: Program Activities Guide www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/index.html

 

Where can I learn more?

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

 

Local Resources

Oaks Integrated Care Services
856-428-1300


Jefferson Behavioral Health
856-488-6789


Division of Mental Health Services
609-567-7352/609-567-7353


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention


CDC Facebook Page on Violence Prevention
www.facebook.com/vetoviolence


National Institute for Mental Health
www.nimh.nih.gov


Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
www.samhsa.gov


Suicide Prevention Resource Center
www.sprc.org


Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Suicide
www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calltoaction