1. Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming approximately 30,000 people each year.
2. Suicide rates amongst youth (age 15-24) have increased more than 300% since the 1950s.
3. The suicide rate is higher for elderly than any other age group.
4. Suicide is preventable. Most suicidal persons desperately want to live. They are just unable to see alternatives to their problems.
5. Most suicidal persons give definite warning signs of their suicidal intentions, but others are often unaware of the significance of these warnings or are unsure what to do about them.
6. Talking about suicide does not cause someone to be suicidal, nor does it mean that someone is less likely to suicide.
7. Four times as many men kill themselves as do women, but three to four times as many women attempt suicide as do men.
8. Firearms are the most common method of suicide among all groups (male, female, elderly, youth, black, white) and rates are increasing.
9. Suicide cuts across all ethnic, economic, social, and age boundaries.
10. Surviving family members not only suffer the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide, but are themselves at higher risk of suicide and emotional problems.

BE AWARE OF THE WARNING SIGNS:

A suicidal person may:

• Talk about committing suicide
• Withdraw from friends and/or social activities
• Be preoccupied with death and dying
• Have a recent severe loss
• Experience drastic changes in behavior
• Lose interest in hobbies, work, school, etc.
• Prepare for death by making out a will and final arrangements
• Give away prized possessions
• Have attempted suicide before
• Take unnecessary risks
• Lose interest in their personal appearance
• Increase their use of alcohol or drugs

Nearly everyone at some time in their lives thinks about committing suicide. Most decide to live because they come to realize that the crisis is temporary but death isn’t. On the other hand, people in the midst of a crisis often perceive their dilemma as inescapable and feel an utter loss of control. These are some of the feeling and things they experience:

• Can’t stop the pain
• Can’t think clearly
• Can’t make decisions
• Can’t see any way out
• Can’t sleep, eat, or work
• Can’t get out of the depression
• Can’t make the sadness go away
• Can’t see a future without pain
• Can’t see themselves as worthwhile
• Can’t get someone’s attention
• Can’t seem to get control

• A community mental health agency
• A private therapist
• A school counselor or psychologist
• A family physician
• A suicide and crisis center
• National Depression Screening Day Year Round Locator line at (800) 573-4433