I was shocked to recently learn about a devastating fact connected with an issue impacting many of us: suicide.
According to a report recently released by those of U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), nearly one in 13 young adults suffered from serious thoughts of suicide back in 2013-2014.
Furthermore, federal health officials say this rate translates into 2.6 million Americans who were between the ages of 18 and 25 during this time period.
This map showcases serious thoughts of suicide in the past year among young adults aged 18 to 25, by state: annual averages, 2013–2014. (Source: SAMHSA, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, National Surveys on Drug Use and Health-NSDUHs), 2013 and 2014.
Before the findings were released, previous studies had revealed suicides to be rising. Suicide is now ranked as the second leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24. In fact, according to research, more than 41,000 deaths were caused by suicide in 2013.
Although rates may be increasing, federal officials of SAMHSA and other experts strongly believe suicides are preventable. Research from SAMHSA indicates there are actually more attempted suicides than deaths. Additionally, people are more likely to have thoughts about suicide before making an attempt — allowing for intervention to happen.
Those of SAMHSA argue people at risk for suicidal behavior need public health information-sharing that can raise awareness and identify effective preventive interventions. From raising awareness, many federal, state, and local policymakers can increase access to mental health treatment and suicide prevention support. Consequently, this can then reduce the negative connotations often associated with mental and emotional issues, encouraging young people to receive help if they feel suicidal.
Kana Enomoto, who is the principal deputy administrator at SAMHSA, noted in an agency news release, “We need to reach out to young people with the message that help is at hand, and promote effective programs for saving lives by treating people at risk whenever and wherever they need it.”
SAMHSA also created the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (Lifeline) to provide immediate help to people in crisis. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Even with SAMHSA’s efforts, I want to encourage you to also know that you can make a difference in helping to prevent suicides from rising. If you see someone kind of down, reach out to them and let them know you care. If a friend says they are feeling down, take the time to let them know you care. We all never know what someone is going through or battling. That means we need to take more time to reach out and to let them know someone does care about them. We need to take time to have more constructive conversations on this issue to eradicate the stigma around it. By talking about this issue more and by taking the time to let someone know we care, we can change lives in more ways than we can imagine to prevent suicides from occurring. Hopefully, from doing this, we can help those of generation know their lives matter.
And if you, yourself, are feeling down, depressed, or discouraged, don’t hide these feelings or keep them to yourself. Reach out to someone close to you or a hotline like SAMHSA’s. Don’t suffer in silence; you don’t have to. Your life is so important and the impact that you can make through your life is so important. You have so much to offer to the world; don’t take that in vain. Please know, you never have to take your life.
If you or someone you know is depressed or feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (Lifeline).
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