Progress, but not enough
Suicide, once seen as the ultimate manifestation of a mental health crisis, has developed into a public health crisis as well. Between 1999 and 2016, suicide rates rose in all but one state — Nevada. During that time, the suicide rate in Pennsylvania jumped by 34 percent. In Ohio, it rose by 36 percent. In North Dakota? Suicides rose by more than 56 percent.
In 2016, 44,965 people died by suicide, making it the 10th-leading cause of death. For people between 10 and 34, it was the second-leading cause, accounting for 13,525 deaths.
Anne Schuchat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s principal deputy director, told The Washington Post that the dramatic rise in suicides throughout the country since 1999 “really suggests that this is a national problem hitting most communities.”
But suicide has been a problem in the United States for a long time, well before the 21st century. In fact, in 1999, when there were 30,000 suicides a year, then-Surgeon General David Satcher called suicide “a significant public health problem.”
So what is being done to stem the tide of suicide in this country? Fortunately the answer is: an awful lot.
September was Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, meaning a great deal of information was shared online about resources for those who are afflicted by suicidal thoughts. One could call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or even text with a trained crisis counselor provided by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Health organizations like NAMI and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention advocate for better mental health treatment and research, as well as grief counseling for those affected by the suicide of a loved one.
Perhaps most important, conversations about mental illness and suicide are gradually being destigmatized within our culture. With the issue growing so significantly over the past two decades, more and more people are speaking up at the issue, and learning how best to help those who need urgent care.
For instance, the Peters Township Library recently held an event teaching people how to recognize the warning signs of a suicidal person. Participants learned about a system known as QPR — Question, Persuade, Refer.
Slowing the rate of suicides in the U.S. will not be as simple as learning the QPR system. But the fact that such a system exists and is being taught to people eager to learn says an awful lot about how far some communities have come on this issue.
Much work is left to be done. Suicide can never be eradicated, but the rate can certainly be reduced through compassion and meaningful dialogue. Take some time to consider how you could show support for a loved one in a need. And, just as important, take some time to care for yourself.