How to Prevent Suicide

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between ages 15 – 34. Now, the question is where’s the effort to stop it? If 90% of people who commit suicide have a mental illness,

Suicide does not generally come without warning. Almost always, persons considering it show symptoms or provide clues to their intent. It is important, however, for crisis workers to know how to read these and be able to distinguish between myth and reality. (Kanel, 2003, p. 76)

"More people in the general population die from suicide than homicide in North America. There are almost 11 suicide deaths each year for every 100,000 people living in the United States, and for every suicide, there are between 8 and 25 attempts" (Brent 4203). Based on this research, the great effect of suicide is displayed. According to dictionary.com, suicide can be defined as "the intentional taking of one's own life." Suicide is a major issue for all people, but it most obviously affects those ranging from ten to twenty-four. People need to understand the tremendous ramifications caused from suicide everyday; when people take their lives, others lose their loved ones. Suicide, one of the leading causes of death of numerous people each day, has reached a crisis point for adolescents and young adults, and it needs to be prevented.

Suicide has been rising at alarming rates; the overall suicide rate for children and adolescents has increased over 300% since the 1950s. (Miller, 2009) Adolescent children are screaming out for our help, are we just ignoring the signs or do we not care? For young people, an average 1,800 take their own lives and 85,000 are hospitalized for attempts nationally (CDC, 2008). With this kind of statistics we need to step in and take some action.

Data shows that the rate of suicide increases every year. Since 1970, the rate of suicide has increased 200% (CDC). An increase that have been collected on a thirty-year period and

People commit suicide on a daily basis, not only in the United States of America, but all over the entire world. Dying by suicide or losing someone from suicide can be incredibly traumatic for families, loved ones, and the victim. Also, dying from suicide by hanging, shooting, or harming oneself is not the utmost, moral, or ethical way to die, due to the physical pain. Furthermore, there are a

Healthy People 2020 set a goal of reducing the number of completed suicides among the adult population by ten percent. This is a reoccurring theme from Healthy People 2010, where the goal was to reduce the number of suicides from 10.5 to 4.8 per 100,000. Unfortunately, from 2003 to 2013, rate of death from suicide has steadily increased to the current rate of 13.0 per 100,000 deaths (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). The goal of Healthy People 2020 is to improve the health of our Nation over the next ten years, from a baseline set of data (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Though suicide is not an illness, it typically is an untreated or undermanaged mental illness that results in a person resorting to

An increase in the global statistic of suicide rates has sparked a worldwide concern in mental health where it is put

Creating a systems approach to create a zero suicide environment for both healthcare providers and patients worked well for the Ford Health System HMO (Hampton, 2010). They were able to achieve zero suicides for at least one year in their HMO, which is something that everyone should strive for. As the owner of the clinic, I provide the endorsement starting from the very top of the organisation, and since it will be my clinic I will be able to create the appropriate culture. The next steps will be to provide all of the workers training and make sure that they are also on-board with the goal of achieving zero suicide deaths. I will also need to develop the appropriate protocol for myself to follow as well as anyone else that may recognize that a patient is experiencing a suicidal crisis. This could involve ensuring that there are spots reserved in my schedule for people who are experiencing a crisis, so that they can be seen as soon as possible. I could also have referrals available for those who need to talk to someone right away, but when I may not have any availability. Lastly, I will ensure that everyone working in my clinic knows what is expected from them at each position in the clinic (M. Class 3/1). Doing all these individual steps will ensure success as a clinic so that we can work to prevent suicide in all of the

Medical care in America is estimated to cost $2.7 trillion each year with roughly 30 percent of that cost attributed to ineffective or redundant care, approximately $800 billion (America's Health Insurance Plans, 2014; FOX, 2010). Within this section $44.6 billion is attributed to suicide treatment and medical cost (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). The CDD further estimates that with approximately 40,000 people dying of suicide annually suicide contributes to the 10th leading cause of death for Americans, narrowly being outstrode by kidney disease and influenza yet still achieving a higher overall medical cost than the ninth and eighth ranked causes of death (Keren, Zaoutis, Saddlemire, Luan, & Coffin, 2006;Webberley, 2015).

Since it is not just one contributing factor, but many issues putting pressure on the victim, This is a societal issue on a large scale, not an individual one, since these suicides are occurring

There is no set solution to the problem of suicide. This being said, the large numbers each day and each year can only be reduced if everyone is in it together to

The CDC suggest that in order to help decrease suicide rates there is a need that needs to be addressed. The article states that “addressing the needs of middle-aged adults, such as those that help persons overcome risk factors, which include economic challenges, job loss, intimate partner problems or violence” is needed to help change this trend (CDC, 2013). The CDC even realises this connection and their idea for a resolution further strengthens the classification of anomia. The analysis by Kennedy and King also leads to a similar conclusion. The paper says “if the state were able to reduce the proportion of... indebted farmers by one per cent, the suicide rates.., would be reduced” (Kennedy, 2014, 8). This common theme in addressing the cause of suicide shows the dependence we have on the economy. As the economy starts to decrease, so do social connections and inevitably depression and anxiety ensue. This leads to the increase in suicide and in order to fight this from occurring, people need to be shown they do have support and they need to be given some

Suicide is currently the 10th leading cause of death in the United States (Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury, 2017). On average, 121 Americans complete suicide each day (CDC Fatal Injuries Report 2015, 2015). The American people are living longer with advances to medical care and technology, yet suicide rates continue to rise. According to the CDC, suicide rates have increased by 24% from the year 1999 to 2014 (Curtain, Warner & Hedegaard, 2016). Consequently, the suicide epidemic continues to grow with no clear path to prevention. This literature review was conducted using the Robert Morris University Library online databases. Databases accessed include PubMed…………., from the years 2000 to 2017. Overall, most the articles obtained are

Suicide is usually a permanent solution to problems that are normally temporary. Most people may deem suicide as a cowardly act as the person committing it is trying to hide from the truth or avoiding some particular consequences that may be waiting for them if they stay alive. While this is to be true one must also understand that there are deeper issues and instead of passing judgement on a person one should offer guidance to help the individual prevent this from happening. In my opinion I feel that people who attempt suicide are alone, no one to confine in and afraid to ask for help without being looked down upon.