“Perhaps the most concerning statistic regarding mental health problems relates to suicide. Those with mental illnesses have much higher suicide rates, and suicide is often considered a mental health disorder in its own right. Given this, recent statistics show that the rate of suicide in the U.S. exceeds 11 for every 100,000 people. This is so significant that suicide represents the 10th leading cause of death among all ages. Among those between 18 and 65, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death. In other words, suicide as a cause of death ranks higher than diabetes, stroke, homicide, and HIV infections. From every epidemiological perspective, mental illness represents a serious and devastating group of health disorders.”
This is the tail end of Suicide Prevention Week, and while I have a lot to say about the healthcare providers role in assessing risk and intervening, I don’t want to not say anything because I can’t get my act together to say everything I want… classic perfectionist bullshit, right?
Last week, when I got home from work on the day the sky was orange, my sister (who I live with) met me at the door with a half-joking/half-not “so, this is gonna increase suicides, huh?” She walked away to the office to work from home.
I joked that I had been thinking the same thing on the way home. But my joke had a dark side. My thoughts had an edge of real questioning— why should I keep going through all this pain and heartache dragging my ass to work in one of the busiest ICUs in the area to care for the sickest of the sick. Why do I keep doing any of this? But the truth is that I’ve survived much worse things than this and found my way out of darker places. Maybe someday I’ll tell y’all about it.
Covid19 and the isolation it causes, as well as our new wildfires on the West Coast that prevent us from even going outside—many people find themselves in crisis. Even my therapist had to take an abrupt vacation to the East Coast.
It is times like this when people’s ability to cope becomes overwhelmed & when hopelessness can set in. Suicide Prevention Week comes at the perfect time to remind us to check on our friends and loved ones.
The following Instagram post is from my therapy “company.” I find it to be thoughtful and helpful right now. If you click through the pictures, I especially like the common misconception explanations about suicide. Spend a few minutes here if you have time.
