September is a somber reminder of Suicide Prevention and how it affects so many people: one in three to be exact.
Would you recognize the warning signs of someone at risk? Nearly half of Americans believe they would according to YouGov.
Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die. A suicide attempt is a non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with intent to die. A suicide attempt might not result in injury. Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide. According to YouGov, “23 percent of Americans have experienced suicidal thoughts.”
KidsPeace, just one of several community organizations, offers “hope, help, and healing”, “teen central”, tools, community programs, education, treatment, and much more.
In this year alone just over 700,000 people have committed suicide. Yougov estimates 33 percent of Americans “know someone who has died by suicide”, that’s 1 out of 3 people.
Suicide rates have climbed 34.2 percent since 2018 according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and is the second leading cause of death for children ages 10-14, and the third leading cause for people ages 15-24, for ages 25-34 it is the second leading cause. Overall, suicide claimed an estimated 48,000 people in 2021 compared it the 700,000 this year.
Science teacher, Mindy Tkach, also serves as the Aevidum Club advisor whose motto is “I’ve got your back.”
They support mental health and suicide prevention. Tkach believes that rates have risen due to the impact social media has on today’s teens. Tkach shared, “Social media puts a lot of pressure on the younger generation” and can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression.
If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to a trusted adult, like a guidance counselor or a teacher or even a principal or go to https://www.safe2saypa.org/
For the Crisis Lifeline dial 988.
