As a society, we talk alot about the medical causes of death, such as, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. We also spend a great deal of time and money preventing, solving and investigating deaths caused by accidents and homicide. However, very little attention is given to a cause of death that takes over 30,000 lives each year, and hospitalizes or otherwise harms over 750,000. This cause destroys more lives than homicide in the US each year. This cause is suicide.
Suicide is considered to be a silent killer because it is not as public as the other causes of death and its causes are not always recognizable publicly. The known causes of suicide are untreated depression and/or mental illness. Depression can result from a number of conditions ranging from major lifestyle changes to chemical imbalances. The symptoms that an individual at-risk for suicide feels include:
- Lack of interest
- Feeling as though things will never improve
- Not feelings as though they belong
- Unable to resolve past issues
Now these are emotions that many people can attest to feeling at one point in their life or another. However, someone at risk for suicide is overcome by these feelings, can not shake them and their ability to cope with everyday life is impacted by the overwhelming heavy presence.
Because suicide is a silent killer, you have to break the silence to combat it. Breaking the silence mean picking up the phone if:
- You find yourself having thoughts of harming yourself
- You suspect someone else may be contemplating harming themselves
- You suspect someone else may be dealing with depression and may be in need of help before it worsens.
Breaking the silence saves lives. Pick up the Phone is a Suicide Prevention Tour geared towards Education, prevention and awareness. The tour, which features Rebbie Jackson, will visit Maryland at the Duke Elllingon on February 25th and has several other dates in other cities - Tour Dates.
Learn the facts, the signs and the prevention techniques for depression and suicide at the links below: