Today is World Suicide Prevention Day

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people – 15-24 (accidents and homicides are 1 and 2). It is the 11^th leading cause overall and the second leading cause among college students.

10-15% of high school students have considered suicide/have a concrete plan, the number is higher for college students.

Twice as many people die by suicide than from HIV/AIDS.

White males over 85 (I have read 65 in other places) have the highest incidence of suicide. And that's the same in all countries. Methods, though, vary by country.

The availability of a firearm in the household increases the risk twofold.

Doctors complete suicide more often than any other profession and female doctors more often than males.

And it's called "completing" suicide, not "committing." Crimes are committed, suicide isn't a crime, just a very desperate attempt to put an end to what experts call "psychache."

Females attempt suicide twice as often as males, but males complete four times as often.

Substance abuse is a risk factor for suicide, as are certain personality disorders and psychiatric illnesses.

Suicide rates are highest in spring and below average during the holiday season.

There are an estimated 4.5 million survivors of suicide – those left behind after somebody completes suicide.

For every two people who die in a homicide, 3 die by suicide.

In the US, somebody attempts suicide every minute and somebody completes every 17 minutes.

There are fewer suicides among the Hispanic and African American population, maybe due to the family structure. Native Americans, on the other hand, have the highest percentage of suicides (1.5 to 2 times the average), followed by Caucasian men.

The Golden Gate Bridge is the No. 1 suicide spot in the world, less than 2% of jumpers survive.

I am including two links for risk factors/warning signs of suicide:

http://www.yellowribbon.org/WarningSigns.html

http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?page_id=05147440-E24E-E376-BDF4BF8BA6444E76

And, if you are reading this and feel suicidal, please, please get help. Talk to somebody, call the suicide help line:

1-800-SUICIDE 1-800-273-TALK

1-800-784-2433 1-800-273-825

Suicide is very often an impulsive act and is always, always a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

RIP Henry