How you can help during Suicide Prevention Month

Like many of us, I’ve lost loved ones to depression and suicide, so this topic is near and dear to my heart.?In 2020, suicide was a leading cause of death in the United States, where 45,979 people died by suicide. This number reflects nearly two times as many deaths caused by homicides (24,576), equaling about one death by suicide every 11 minutes, and 130 per day, with an estimated 1.20M suicide attempts.

?Research shows younger people are at greater risk than other groups, marking suicide the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34. Alarmingly, more people between the ages of 10 and 44 died from suicide than from COVID-19 in 2020. Suicide and suicide attempts do not just affect the individual - they affect everyone in the community of the individual - friends, loved ones, co-workers and family. Suicide itself is an epidemic.

?How can we know the signs / how could we have known?

?Many of us have asked ourselves these hard questions. While it’s possible that someone at risk of suicide may clearly express feelings of wanting to die, it’s not always so easy to spot the warning signs. Here are a few other signs and behaviors that may suggest someone is at risk:

-??feelings of guilt, shame or being a burden to others

-? feeling hopeless, empty, trapped or with no reason to live

-??extreme sadness or rage

-??increased anxiety or agitation

-??changes in behavior such as: dangerous risk-taking, isolating from friends and loved ones, making a will, increasing drug/alcohol use, and giving away important items

There are also several health, environment and historical risk factors that increase the chance a person may try to take their own life. These mental health conditions include, but are certainly not limited to, depression and anxiety disorders. Although depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, it is often undiagnosed or untreated. When unaddressed, depression, along with other mental health conditions like anxiety disorders or substance issues, increases one’s risk for suicide.

This is why NeuroStar is committed to being patient-centric and helping the cause of depression at the source. You’ve heard me or seen me say this before, and I’m going to continue to say it - based on the current suicide rate, if we can treat 166,240 people with depression over the next five years with NeuroStar Advanced TMS Therapy, 3,325 lives will be saved and so many more transformed.

In our own ways, each of us can take some part in suicide prevention. To learn more about suicide prevention, the CDC has an in-depth technical package with policies and programs that is absolutely worth the read. One of the most anticipated programs is the national rollout of the 988 Lifeline system (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). The 988 Lifeline is a leader in suicide prevention and mental health crisis care that allows callers (or texters) to connect with a trained crisis counselor confidentially and at no cost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Experts have shared that about 80% of calls to the Lifeline can be deescalated over the phone. Of the remaining 20%, a large portion can be addressed appropriately by a mobile crisis response team, which includes mental health professionals, paramedics and social workers. Although the hotline faced a crisis of faith earlier this spring, with many outsiders offering valid concerns regarding funding and resources, this innovative and massive effort is a step in the right direction for suicide prevention.

Many people feel they don’t know how to help someone they care about who might be at risk. Sometimes simply having an understanding of why someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts can be a starting point. There are significant ways to help that may seem small but can make all the difference. Identifying the warning signs seems like a clear first step, but then what? What if you conclude that your friend, family or loved one is indeed at risk? The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) offers a clear guide on how to talk to someone who says they are considering suicide, and various other suicide prevention resources.

#BeThe1To is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s message for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, which helps spread the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide (i.e. be the one to ask, keep them safe, and more). Their page also offers an in-depth look at 5 steps you can take to communicate with someone who may be at risk of suicide.

Creating a comprehensive system won’t happen overnight, but with our shared goal of helping as many people as possible, we are heading in the right direction. NeuroStar will always be committed to being a part of this collective effort. Visit our website to learn more about our advanced treatment for major depressive disorder and how it might help someone you know.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10th. If someone you know might be at risk, be there, ask the hard questions, and know that neither they, nor you, are alone.

?#NeuroStarCares #SuicidePrevention #3325