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Suicide Prevention - Why Do I Need to Know about Suicide?

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WHY Do I Need to Know about Suicide?  (There are many myths in our society regarding suicide and mental illness. These misconceptions can generate a lot of fear, pain, shame, and ignorance.  How much do you know about this National Mental Health Crisis?  Take the Myth  Fact Challenge)

1) People who talk about suicide won't actually do it.  Myth or Fact

    MYTH - 75% of all individuals that take their own lives told a friend or family member before they did

2) More people in the United States die by homicide than by suicide.  Myth or Fact

    MYTH - for every 3 murders in this country there are 5 suicides

3) Most people who complete suicide are just crazy or psychotic.  Myth or Fact

    MYTH - although about 90% of people who die by suicide do have a mental health disorder, such as depression or bipolar disorder, they are not "crazy or psychotic", but in a lot of emotional pain.

4) If someone wants to take their own life there's nothing I can do about it.Myth or Fact

    MYTH - although not every life can be saved, most suicides are actually preventable through education, identification, referral, and treatment

5) Over 30,000 lives are lost each year in this country to suicide.  Myth or Fact

    FACT - 32,000 individuals lost their lives to suicide last year, over 5,000 were under 18 yrs. of age.  (these numbers do not even reflect the great number of questionable deaths ruled as accidents but may have actually been suicides)

6) No one I know would ever take their own life.  Myth or Fact

     MYTH - 60% of the population will know someone in their lifetime that dies by suicide; 20% of the population will actually have a family member that dies by suicide

7) A suicide attempt is just someone trying to get attention.  Myth or Fact

     MYTH - a suicide attempt is very serious and should be taken seriously, no matter how medically minor; an attempt means the individual tried but was unable to complete for any number of reasons; & the more attempts an individual has the greater the risk

8) More males than females die by suicide.  Myth or Fact

     FACT - currently about four times as many males die by suicide as females, but suicide by females, esp. adolescent females, is greatly on the rise; both males and females are at risk and should be taken seriously

9) Suicide only happens to certain groups of people.  Myth or Fact

     MYTH- although there are certain groups that are at high risk, including the elderly and adolescents, these groups do not account for the largest number of suicides; in other words suicide can and does happen to individuals of all ages, all races, all education levels, all income levels, all occupations.

10) When someone takes their life there are usually no warning signs. Myth or Fact

     MYTH - most individuals DO show warning signs prior to taking their lives, but often these signs are not recognized or understood by friends and family until after the individual's death;  LEARN AND LOOK FOR SIGNS

So...Why Do I Need to Know about Suicide?-   Because our home is not just a building, it is our neighbors, our community.  Because mental illness strikes 1 in 5.  Because the stigma that comes with mental illness keeps people from asking for help. Becaue MOST suicides are preventable.  Because an informed & caring community can break down barriers to seeking treatment.  Because  by learning and recognizing when someone is displaying warning signs and at immediate risk, YOU CAN make a difference.  YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE!