Suicide Prevention

Suicide is a leading cause of death, and we must do more to prevent it. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death for all Americans and the 7th leading cause of death for Colorado. There are far more people who survive a suicide attempt than die.

Nationally, approximately 32,000 people die by suicide and more than 395,000 people are treated for suicide attempts each year. For young people, an average 1,800 take their own lives and 85,000 are hospitalized for attempts nationally (CDC). While males die by suicide four times more than females, females account for three times as many suicide attempts. Both deaths and attempts are devastating events and leave a long-lasting impact on the family, friends and attempter.

In Colorado, suicide is the leading cause of injury death for all ages, and an average 700 each year. For youth, suicide is the second leading cause of death (average 50 per year), following motor vehicle crashes (average 100 per year) (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment).

A 2007 survey found that over 13.6 percent of high school students stated they had seriously considered suicide, and nearly 7 percent of students reported they had attempted suicide one or more times in 12 months.

Even though so many young people die by suicide in Colorado, most feel uncomfortable or unprepared to talk about this serious issue. Even when the suicidal person does not die, there are physical injuries to mend and mental issues that were present before the attempt to address.

What are the warning signs?

• A previous suicide attempt. A prior attempt puts one at an extremely high risk to attempt again.
• Depression. Signs of depression include anger or isolation and change in sleeping habits and eating patterns.
• Other mental health issues. Mental health issues are a major contributing factor to suicide. Adolescence is an age when many serious mental health problems emerge.
• Attempting to or possessing a suicide means. Many times, youth will start actively seeking the method by which he/she will attempt suicide, such as a firearm or poison.
• Having a preoccupation with death, dying or suicide. Pictures, writings and discussions of death and dying often occur before a suicide.

There are also many social circumstances that can be warning signs.

• Increased drug or alcohol use. Many times a person will try to “numb” the pain she/he is experiencing.
• A suicide death of a family member or friend. A person might feel they can “be with them again” if he/she can die also. A non-suicide death of a close family relative or friend can also be a risk.
• Being the victim of violence. Sexual violence victims and child abuse victims have high correlates with suicide.
• Intimate partner relationship problems. The break up with a girlfriend/boyfriend can be a crisis for young people.
• School failure or discipline problems at school.
• A recent argument with parents or other guardian.
• A change in status, especially in the juvenile justice or child welfare system. Many young people attempt suicide soon after learning they have been sentenced to jail time, have had their probation revoked or another legal status has changed. For child welfare youth, a change in residence or foster home is a heightened risk.
• Sexual and physical abuse and rape.

Protective factors that have an effect on the resiliency of youth to cope and deflect risk:

• Self-esteem
• Resilience in handling failure
• Peer support and influence
• Family bonding
  • Parental expectations
  • Parental limit setting
• Extracurricular activities

There is no formula of risk factors and signs that can predict what young person may or may not attempt suicide. The best prevention is to be:

• Ready to ask the question directly - “Are you thinking about suicide?”
• Prepared to listen to the person in crisis – Note: crisis is defined by the person experiencing it. Do not minimize the event by making statements such as “You will get over it” or “You’re not going to do something stupid are you?”
• Knowledgeable about the proper resources to connect the young person with.
• Proactive in letting all adults in the young person’s life know that she/he has said – or you are worried – that suicide has been considered. The more people who know, the more people can help.

There are best practices that communities can implement to lower the risk of suicide and build protective factors in young people:

• Support Mental Health Services in Primary Care and School Settings – Colorado has 40 comprehensive school-based health centers, 30 of which are in secondary schools
• Promote Integrated Community Initiatives – Programs are more likely to be successful if they are comprehensive and intensive. Programs designed to address suicide and suicidal behavior as part of a broader focus on mental health, coping skills in response to stress, depression, substance abuse and aggressive behaviors should be implemented.
• Establish Programs that Promote Healthy Social Skills and Relationships – Relationships of high quality have a beneficial impact on health, both psychological and physical.
• Support Suicide Awareness, Intervention and Protocol Development – Effective treatment approaches are necessary to treat suicidal individuals. Agencies must know of them, and know how to access them. A community effort to build formal processes to refer suicidal individuals should be implemented.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the confidential hotline:
1-800-273-TALK (8255). The line provides crisis counselors in English and Spanish and has an extension for veterans as well.