I want to take a minute to recommend what I think might be the best suicide prevention blog I know. It it http://everyminute.org. It is written by my friend Michael Corbin. You will find more up to date information there than about any place I know. Michael also does a good job presenting one of the best cases for more mental healh research of anybody I know.
Check it out. You will be glad you did.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
How big a problem is it really?
The following article is from SAMSHA. The numbers are absolutely startling. Please pass this information on to others you know. NO one has to die.
Date: 9/17/2009
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press
Telephone: 240-276-2130
First-of-a-Kind National Study Reveals that 8.3 Million Adults in the U.S. had Serious Thoughts of Committing Suicide in the Past Year
2.3 Million Adults Made a Suicide Plan and 1.1 Million Adults Actually Attempted Suicide in the Past Year
Nearly 8.3 million adults (age 18 and older) in the U.S. (3.7 percent) had serious thoughts of committing suicide in the past year according to the first national scientific survey of its size on this public health problem. The study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also shows that 2.3 million adult Americans made a suicide plan in the past year and that 1.1 million adults - 0.5 percent of all adult Americans – had actually attempted suicide in the past year.
The study provides important insights into the nature and scope of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. For example, the risk of suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts varies significantly among age groups. Young adults aged 18 to 25 were far more likely to have seriously considered suicide in the past year than those aged 26 to 49 (6.7 percent versus 3.9 percent), and nearly three times more likely than those aged 50 or older (2.3 percent). These disparities in risk levels among younger and older adults also were found in suicide planning and suicide attempts.
Substance use disorders also were associated with an increase in the risk of seriously considering, planning or attempting suicide. People experiencing substance abuse disorders within the past year were more than three times as likely to have seriously considered committing suicide as those who had not experienced a substance abuse disorder (11.0 percent versus 3.0 percent). Those with past year substance abuse disorders were also 4 times more likely to have planned a suicide than those without substance abuse disorders (3.4 percent versus 0.8 percent), and nearly seven times more likely to have attempted suicide (2.0 percent versus 0.3 percent).
The study also revealed that adult females had marginally higher levels of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than males in the past year.
“This study offers a far greater understanding of just how pervasive the risk of suicide is in our nation and how many of us are potentially affected by it,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator, Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “While there are places that people in crisis can turn to for help like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK, the magnitude of the public health crisis revealed by this study should motivate us as a nation to do everything possible to reach out and help the millions who are at risk — preferably well before they are in immediate danger.”
The study notes that only 62.3 percent of adults who had attempted suicide in the past year received medical attention for their suicide attempts. It also notes that 46.0 percent of those attempting suicide stayed in a hospital overnight or longer for treatment of their suicide attempts.
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among Adults is based on 2008 data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which obtained responses from 46,190 persons aged 18 or older. The full report is available online at http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/165/suicide.cfm. Copies may also be obtained free of charge at http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=18198 or by calling SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727). For related publications and information, visit http://www.samhsa.gov/ .
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK, coordinates the network of 140 crisis centers across the United States providing suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to individuals seeking help at any time, day or night. SAMHSA funds the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) through a cooperative agreement for Networking, Certifying and Training Suicide Prevention Hotlines that was awarded to Link2Health Solutions, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 9/17/2009
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press
Telephone: 240-276-2130
First-of-a-Kind National Study Reveals that 8.3 Million Adults in the U.S. had Serious Thoughts of Committing Suicide in the Past Year
2.3 Million Adults Made a Suicide Plan and 1.1 Million Adults Actually Attempted Suicide in the Past Year
Nearly 8.3 million adults (age 18 and older) in the U.S. (3.7 percent) had serious thoughts of committing suicide in the past year according to the first national scientific survey of its size on this public health problem. The study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also shows that 2.3 million adult Americans made a suicide plan in the past year and that 1.1 million adults - 0.5 percent of all adult Americans – had actually attempted suicide in the past year.
The study provides important insights into the nature and scope of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. For example, the risk of suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts varies significantly among age groups. Young adults aged 18 to 25 were far more likely to have seriously considered suicide in the past year than those aged 26 to 49 (6.7 percent versus 3.9 percent), and nearly three times more likely than those aged 50 or older (2.3 percent). These disparities in risk levels among younger and older adults also were found in suicide planning and suicide attempts.
Substance use disorders also were associated with an increase in the risk of seriously considering, planning or attempting suicide. People experiencing substance abuse disorders within the past year were more than three times as likely to have seriously considered committing suicide as those who had not experienced a substance abuse disorder (11.0 percent versus 3.0 percent). Those with past year substance abuse disorders were also 4 times more likely to have planned a suicide than those without substance abuse disorders (3.4 percent versus 0.8 percent), and nearly seven times more likely to have attempted suicide (2.0 percent versus 0.3 percent).
The study also revealed that adult females had marginally higher levels of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than males in the past year.
“This study offers a far greater understanding of just how pervasive the risk of suicide is in our nation and how many of us are potentially affected by it,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator, Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. “While there are places that people in crisis can turn to for help like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK, the magnitude of the public health crisis revealed by this study should motivate us as a nation to do everything possible to reach out and help the millions who are at risk — preferably well before they are in immediate danger.”
The study notes that only 62.3 percent of adults who had attempted suicide in the past year received medical attention for their suicide attempts. It also notes that 46.0 percent of those attempting suicide stayed in a hospital overnight or longer for treatment of their suicide attempts.
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors among Adults is based on 2008 data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which obtained responses from 46,190 persons aged 18 or older. The full report is available online at http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/165/suicide.cfm. Copies may also be obtained free of charge at http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalog/productDetails.aspx?ProductID=18198 or by calling SAMHSA’s Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727). For related publications and information, visit http://www.samhsa.gov/ .
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK, coordinates the network of 140 crisis centers across the United States providing suicide prevention and crisis intervention services to individuals seeking help at any time, day or night. SAMHSA funds the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) through a cooperative agreement for Networking, Certifying and Training Suicide Prevention Hotlines that was awarded to Link2Health Solutions, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment, and mental health services delivery system.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Suicide prevention month
We have started Suicide Prevention Month. Most communities will have something going on. Find out what is happening in your community and do what you can do to become involved. Your voice does count.
Many of us have been touched in one way or another by this terrible tragedy. If you have been touched or know someone who has died spend some time to honor their deaths. Do not let their deaths be in vain. Become involved. Speak up and speak up loudly.
Many of us have been touched in one way or another by this terrible tragedy. If you have been touched or know someone who has died spend some time to honor their deaths. Do not let their deaths be in vain. Become involved. Speak up and speak up loudly.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Some stats from the World Health Organization
This information comes from the World Health Organization. It is sobering to say the least.
In the year 2000, approximately one million people died from suicide: a "global" mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds.
In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years (both sexes); these figures do not include suicide attempts up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicide.
Suicide worldwide is estimated to represent 1.8% of the total global burden of disease in 1998, and 2.4% in countries with market and former socialist economies in 2020.
Although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the male elderly, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of countries, in both developed and developing countries.
Mental disorders (particularly depression and substance abuse) are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide; however, suicide results from many complex sociocultural factors and is more likely to occur particularly during periods of socioeconomic, family and individual crisis situations (e.g. loss of a loved one, employment, honour).
This doesnt have to happen, but it takes action by all of us. September is suicide awareness month. Find a way to be active in your community.
In the year 2000, approximately one million people died from suicide: a "global" mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds.
In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years (both sexes); these figures do not include suicide attempts up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicide.
Suicide worldwide is estimated to represent 1.8% of the total global burden of disease in 1998, and 2.4% in countries with market and former socialist economies in 2020.
Although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the male elderly, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of countries, in both developed and developing countries.
Mental disorders (particularly depression and substance abuse) are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide; however, suicide results from many complex sociocultural factors and is more likely to occur particularly during periods of socioeconomic, family and individual crisis situations (e.g. loss of a loved one, employment, honour).
This doesnt have to happen, but it takes action by all of us. September is suicide awareness month. Find a way to be active in your community.
Friday, August 7, 2009
ON life and death and other things
"There are only two ways to look at life. Either everything is a miracle or everything isn't." - Albert Einstein
A man was talking to God about the evil and suffering and bad things in life. "Don't you care.... Why don't you send help? " God replied softly, "I did send help.... I sent you...." - unknown
God gave us each other. Life is what we do with other people. Each of us is a miracle and the purpose of life is to take care of God's miracles. Never is that more clear than when life is threatened.
In the last 3 days Linda and I have dealt with the specter of death 3 times. On Saturday two friends had seperate suicidal crisis literally within minutes of each other. One we spent hours on the phone with. She is okay and there is some hope the whole episode be the beginning of step forward for her. The second was a younger person who did make a potentially lethal gesture. We spent the night at the ER with him. Right now things look better for him. I think maybe he scared himself out of desperation. I hope so.
Last night I got a call telling me that an old friend had died. He had cancer and decided that this was not the life he wanted. He ended it with a gun.
I have studied a lot about suicide, but over the last couple of years I have met a lot of people for whom it is far more than a field of study. It is something that hangs in the air of everyday life, always there, always a threat. Their question many days is "Can I make it?" and many days they are simply not sure.
It is a question that all of us ask at some time I think. We tell ourselves though that "we could never do that." No one wants to see themselves in someone elses desperate acts. But desperation leads us to different paths and chronic desperation leaves us different people. No one really thinks they are "that kind of person" until they find out, perhaps too late, they are.
Death is, mainly, I think a choice of people alone. They may come to their solitude in many ways, but they are left in their eyes with death as the only companion that can ease their pain. Hope is not often found in empty rooms. And the truly desperate so often find no one willing to share the place they live.
I am reminded of the many people I have known who have dealt with suicidal issues. I remember the lady I met who struggled with bipolar disorder who explained to me that she had made 12 attempts in the last two years. When I listened to her I knew her greatest desperation. She was terrified of herself. Each day, each minute she was afraid of where the bipolar would take her next. Next to her that night was another lady who had tried to jump off a bridge a year before that. They hugged each other and cried. If only for a night they knew that life need not always be what you did by yourself.
Where I live the suicide rate is about twice what it should be statistically. And I live in a good community. But I listen to people and realize that for so many people desperation has come to the space of their life. They are learning to live in a new place and maybe, just maybe, we have the ability to make it a little better. Some people will choose death. It is everybody's choice to make for themselves. Sometimes all you can hope is that people will stop and think.
The biggest tragedy is not to live in a room alone. The biggest tragedy is to be so used to it that you forget there is a door by which people enter. Remember God gave you to others. Taking care of his miracles seems like a pretty good way to live.
originally posted on http://hopeworkscommunity.wordpress.com
A man was talking to God about the evil and suffering and bad things in life. "Don't you care.... Why don't you send help? " God replied softly, "I did send help.... I sent you...." - unknown
God gave us each other. Life is what we do with other people. Each of us is a miracle and the purpose of life is to take care of God's miracles. Never is that more clear than when life is threatened.
In the last 3 days Linda and I have dealt with the specter of death 3 times. On Saturday two friends had seperate suicidal crisis literally within minutes of each other. One we spent hours on the phone with. She is okay and there is some hope the whole episode be the beginning of step forward for her. The second was a younger person who did make a potentially lethal gesture. We spent the night at the ER with him. Right now things look better for him. I think maybe he scared himself out of desperation. I hope so.
Last night I got a call telling me that an old friend had died. He had cancer and decided that this was not the life he wanted. He ended it with a gun.
I have studied a lot about suicide, but over the last couple of years I have met a lot of people for whom it is far more than a field of study. It is something that hangs in the air of everyday life, always there, always a threat. Their question many days is "Can I make it?" and many days they are simply not sure.
It is a question that all of us ask at some time I think. We tell ourselves though that "we could never do that." No one wants to see themselves in someone elses desperate acts. But desperation leads us to different paths and chronic desperation leaves us different people. No one really thinks they are "that kind of person" until they find out, perhaps too late, they are.
Death is, mainly, I think a choice of people alone. They may come to their solitude in many ways, but they are left in their eyes with death as the only companion that can ease their pain. Hope is not often found in empty rooms. And the truly desperate so often find no one willing to share the place they live.
I am reminded of the many people I have known who have dealt with suicidal issues. I remember the lady I met who struggled with bipolar disorder who explained to me that she had made 12 attempts in the last two years. When I listened to her I knew her greatest desperation. She was terrified of herself. Each day, each minute she was afraid of where the bipolar would take her next. Next to her that night was another lady who had tried to jump off a bridge a year before that. They hugged each other and cried. If only for a night they knew that life need not always be what you did by yourself.
Where I live the suicide rate is about twice what it should be statistically. And I live in a good community. But I listen to people and realize that for so many people desperation has come to the space of their life. They are learning to live in a new place and maybe, just maybe, we have the ability to make it a little better. Some people will choose death. It is everybody's choice to make for themselves. Sometimes all you can hope is that people will stop and think.
The biggest tragedy is not to live in a room alone. The biggest tragedy is to be so used to it that you forget there is a door by which people enter. Remember God gave you to others. Taking care of his miracles seems like a pretty good way to live.
originally posted on http://hopeworkscommunity.wordpress.com
As hard as it to see it is a solution
The beginning of understanding why people are suicidal is to understand how suicide offers a solution to them for some kind of problem. And when you can understand then you have a sense of what it will take to diffuse the situation.
It is important to realize the problem they are solving may not seem that big a problem to you or it may seem obvious that there are better ways to solve the problem than killing yourself, but the point is that is not their reality. And you must take their reality seriously.
Years ago I had a job in a school system in Georgia. I worked in a special school and one day I went out to check on a 14 year old boy who had not shown up for school that day. I knocked on the door of his trailer and as it slowly opened I looked inside and saw him sitting in his living room with a rifle up underneath his chin. He was getting ready to kill himself.
He had been suicidal before. I went in and talked him into giving up the gun. We started talking about what was going on. He told me that the night before he had got into an argument with his mother. Very hostile words were exchanged. He called her a "bitch" and she told him that he was a "mistake." Both of them went to bed furious. He woke up the next morning and went into her room to make up with her. She was gone.
He was furious. She would not accept his apology and he was beside himself. He picked up the gun and was going to kill himself to teach her a lesson. I stopped him a moment and asked him a couple of questions, "Where does your mother work (I already knew at a factory)? Does she ever get called in early(I knew she did)? Does she usually wake you up to tell you?" He answered slowly, "No she figures I am old enough to get myself up for school."
He stopped and looked at me. He knew where I was going. "Are you going to kill yourself because your mother had to go to work early? Don't you think you should check?"
It turned out she had went to work early. We talked about why he was mad and what he wanted to say to his mom and what he had to do to stay safe for the rest of the day. I notified all the people who needed to know what had happened. He ended up talking with his mother and it was okay.
The point though is he was getting ready to solve a problem that number 1 didnt exist and number 2 even if it had with a method that didnt solve anything. But when I talked to him and basically "dissolved" his solution his risk to hurt himself, while still real, decreased dramatically.
You are not a therapist and should never pretend to be one. However sometimes you may find yourself in a position where what you say to someone is important. Remember the message. Suicide doesnt really solve anything.
It is important to realize the problem they are solving may not seem that big a problem to you or it may seem obvious that there are better ways to solve the problem than killing yourself, but the point is that is not their reality. And you must take their reality seriously.
Years ago I had a job in a school system in Georgia. I worked in a special school and one day I went out to check on a 14 year old boy who had not shown up for school that day. I knocked on the door of his trailer and as it slowly opened I looked inside and saw him sitting in his living room with a rifle up underneath his chin. He was getting ready to kill himself.
He had been suicidal before. I went in and talked him into giving up the gun. We started talking about what was going on. He told me that the night before he had got into an argument with his mother. Very hostile words were exchanged. He called her a "bitch" and she told him that he was a "mistake." Both of them went to bed furious. He woke up the next morning and went into her room to make up with her. She was gone.
He was furious. She would not accept his apology and he was beside himself. He picked up the gun and was going to kill himself to teach her a lesson. I stopped him a moment and asked him a couple of questions, "Where does your mother work (I already knew at a factory)? Does she ever get called in early(I knew she did)? Does she usually wake you up to tell you?" He answered slowly, "No she figures I am old enough to get myself up for school."
He stopped and looked at me. He knew where I was going. "Are you going to kill yourself because your mother had to go to work early? Don't you think you should check?"
It turned out she had went to work early. We talked about why he was mad and what he wanted to say to his mom and what he had to do to stay safe for the rest of the day. I notified all the people who needed to know what had happened. He ended up talking with his mother and it was okay.
The point though is he was getting ready to solve a problem that number 1 didnt exist and number 2 even if it had with a method that didnt solve anything. But when I talked to him and basically "dissolved" his solution his risk to hurt himself, while still real, decreased dramatically.
You are not a therapist and should never pretend to be one. However sometimes you may find yourself in a position where what you say to someone is important. Remember the message. Suicide doesnt really solve anything.
Monday, August 3, 2009
How dangerous are they: A short assessment
How do you know if someone is a real threat to kill themselves. There are a number of lists of warning signs and as a first step take a look at them. If you think there is cause to worry try to involve a professional.
What I want to share with you is a short hand way to look at how much a threat someone really is. It does not substitute in any way for professional assessment, but may give you a starting place. It is based on the work of a man named Gavin deBecker who wrote a book many years ago about threat and fear. Although he doesnt apply it to suicide I have used it many times with people I thought were at risks and I am convinced it helps you to think through the situation more clearly.
1. Justificaton. What kind of justification does the person think he has for his actions? How strongly does he feel? Is he ambivalent in any way?
2. Alternatives. Does he see any options? Is this the only way he sees to "solve" the problem?
3. Consequences. What does he see as the consequences of his actions. Does he truly see it as "deliverence?'
4. Ability. Does he have the ability to do what he says. Are the "tools" he needs at his disposal? Does he have means and the ability to use them?
If the answer to all these questions is in the affirmative then indeed you have a high risk situation and need to act to save a life. Do what you can, but dont try to do it all alone. Get professional help.
What I want to share with you is a short hand way to look at how much a threat someone really is. It does not substitute in any way for professional assessment, but may give you a starting place. It is based on the work of a man named Gavin deBecker who wrote a book many years ago about threat and fear. Although he doesnt apply it to suicide I have used it many times with people I thought were at risks and I am convinced it helps you to think through the situation more clearly.
1. Justificaton. What kind of justification does the person think he has for his actions? How strongly does he feel? Is he ambivalent in any way?
2. Alternatives. Does he see any options? Is this the only way he sees to "solve" the problem?
3. Consequences. What does he see as the consequences of his actions. Does he truly see it as "deliverence?'
4. Ability. Does he have the ability to do what he says. Are the "tools" he needs at his disposal? Does he have means and the ability to use them?
If the answer to all these questions is in the affirmative then indeed you have a high risk situation and need to act to save a life. Do what you can, but dont try to do it all alone. Get professional help.
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