Suicide Information
“Much of the
work of suicide prevention must occur at the community level, where
human relationships breath life into public policy…I encourage
you to strive by every means possible to offer effective suicide
and crisis prevention/intervention services to the people in the
region,”
-- David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D., Surgeon General
There are only a few who escape being touched in some way by the
tragedy of suicide. The ever increasing rate of suicide in the United
States has prompted a National Strategy, spearheaded by Dr. David
Satcher. His strategy is a call for action from all sectors to help
prevent these premature deaths.
We see ourselves as an important part in Dr. Satcher's strategy.
CrisisLink seeks to prevent these tragedies by providing immediate
support and resources for life crises, distress and suicide. Please
review our programs and services.
Here are some facts about this national epidemic.
Suicide Among Youth
- Suicide is the third leading cause of youth death.
- Gay and lesbian youth are four times more likely to kill themselves
than their straight counterparts.
- Suicidal behaviors often are a result of multiple social, economic,
family, and mental health factors.
- A firearm is the most commonly used method of suicide by persons
under age 24.
Suicide Among the Elderly
- The highest suicide rates of any age group occur among persons
aged 65 years and older
- There is an average of one suicide among the elderly every 90
minutes.
- Risk factors include a higher prevalence of depression and social
isolation.
Suicide Among the Military
- Suicides among active duty and veteran military personnel have skyrocketed since 2003.
- In 2007 alone, 2,100 soldiers in the Army attempted suicide; more than a hundred completed. That's an average of over 5 soldiers attempting suicide every day in the Army alone.
- 1 in 5 people who complete suicide in the US are military veterans.
Suicide Among Diverse Populations
- African-American male youth have shown the largest increase
in suicide rates since 1980 compared to any other youth group
by age and race.
- Among Native Americans and African-Americans, the highest suicide
rates occur during the adolescent and young adult years.
- African-American women have the lowest suicide rates among all
ethnicities and age groups.
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