Reducing The Suicide Rate In The United States
The suicide rate is out of control! Mental health disorders are a leading health indicator of suicide, however there are many other root causes of suicides. According to Fitzpatrick (2015) “Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States and the second leading killer for those aged 15-34”. These statistics are telling us that in most of suicide victims mental illness was not detected. Why have the suicide rates increased so much in the past fifteen years?
Matthay and Galin (2017) stated “Suicide is a leading cause of premature mortality in the United States. Between 1999 and 2014, suicide rates increased 23%”. There are many other reasons that people choose to kill themselves. Typically, crisis occurs that the individual cannot see past that issue and they see suicide as their only option. In reading more about this topic disparities of suicide victims were all over the board. So many victims were from all sorts of walks of life, different ages, and different sexes. This a concern to society because death is a serious commitment. There is no coming back from suicide and aside from the obvious issue of death, suicide also affects the others involved. Witnessing a suicide or knowing someone close that has committed suicide will be something that most people will be exposed to in their life. Suicide is a major public health concern because it could possibly be preventable. Sometimes there are signs and sometimes there are not. According to Pease, Billera and Gerard (2016) “Suicide among active duty military members and veterans has increased in the wake of the two international conflicts, surpassing those of the general population for the first time since Vietnam” (p. 84). Anyone is at risk for suicide, and some populations more specifically than others such as individuals that have been through traumatic experiences like war potentially causing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Veterans sometimes struggle reintegrating into civilian life.
Although it is not easy to identify those at risk for suicidal behavior, there are signs that can and would allow for some prevention. There are ways to screen for suicide likeliness. Many times, when someone we know has feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, and depressed moods these are signs of suicide. Having a mental health disorder does increase likelihood of suicide. Bipolar disorders and anxiety disorders are leading indicators of suicide. Among anxiety disorders, panic disorder and PTSD have the strongest associations with suicidal behavior. Depression, substance abuse disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and significant trauma also increase the chances of suicide. Suicide prevention requires strategies that include friends, family, caregivers, and the community to always be aware of these signs. Given the complexity of managing the suicide risk, a combination of interventions would be required to make a difference.
Physicians can monitor their patients and should refer patients with multiple risk factors to consultation with a mental health professional. This could happen almost the same way with other health referrals that lead to medical interventions. Many risk factors for suicide can be uncovered during a visit with a primary care physician. Depression is associated with a significant risk of suicide. Substance abuse, history of physical or sexual abuse, conduct disorder, and aggression/impulsivity also suggest greater risk of suicide, especially in combination. In addition, social and cultural contexts, such as family discord, economic hardship, and social isolation deserve attention. Multiple concurrent risk factors increase the risk of suicide and should be heeded. Ways to ensure that suicide prevention programs are working are to increase awareness and training for prevention tactics. Prevention initiatives at the selective level include screening programs to identify and assess at-risk groups, support/skills training a form of crisis response, and referral resources. This review focuses on the available empirical evidence regarding school-based suicide prevention efforts. Screening is a critical first step.
Epidemiological Origins
Suicide has been a concept tracing back to the Roman Empire and data has only been tracked in the past century or so. Suicidal ideation are thoughts of harming or killing oneself. Suicidal ideation is typically a precursor to actual suicide attempts. There are mental health indicators associated with the prediction of suicide attempts. Understanding of its risk factors and protective factors is essential to inform strategies aiming at suicide prevention. I’m not really sure that there is a true epidemiological triangle for suicide. There is no single cause of suicide, but typically it boils down to a child or adults ability to cope with an issue. Many times, these children and adults have been untreated or undiagnosed and depression greatly influences suicide. Risk factors are often confused with warning signs of suicide. Warning signs indicate an immediate risk of suicide, whereas risk factors suggest someone is at heightened risk for suicide, but not necessary.
