It’s Suicide Prevention Month: Here are the alarming statistics you need to know

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. It is a time to remember those that have lost their lives to suicide, recognize the thousands and thousands of people that have had suicidal thoughts, and pay tribute to the thousands and thousands of people, families, and communities affected by suicide.

However, it’s also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope. According to a recent test Looking only at women, researchers from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Howard University identified black women aged 18–65 as having the highest risk of suicide, despite their socioeconomic status. The study also found that black women with the highest incomes were 20% more likely to commit suicide compared to white women with the lowest socioeconomic status.

“Our findings were surprising because most studies tend to show that suicide rates were higher among white women in the U.S. However, when we start looking at the intersection of race and income, a different picture emerges,” explains the corresponding writer. Temitope OgundareDoctor of Medicine, Master of Public Health, Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry at the University.

So why do black women suffer a lot from suicide, especially once we earn greater than our female counterparts? Given that suicide rates have risen amongst black women and girls for 20 years, this will not be an economic problem. Instead, it stems from chronic racism, stress and burnout, and distrust of medical support systems like health care providers. Additional aspects may include intimate partner violence, neighborhood violence, and a scarcity of investment from federal and state support systems.

Here are some more alarming statistics you should know, according to the World Health Organization:

• Every 12 months, greater than 720,000 people commit suicide.
• Suicide is the third leading reason behind death amongst people aged 15–29.
• Seventy-three percent of the world’s suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
• For every suicide, there are many more individuals who attempt suicide. A previous suicide attempt is a major risk factor for suicide in the general population.

Signs of suicide:

The following topics were discussed:

• Want to die
• Feeling guilty or ashamed
• They feel like they are a burden to others.

Experiencing feelings of hopelessness:

• Empty, hopeless, trapped or with no reason to live
• Very sad, more anxious, agitated or offended
• Unbearable emotional or physical pain

Change in behavior, e.g.:

• Creating a plan or finding ways to die
• Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, gifting away essentials, or making a will
• Taking dangerous risks, resembling driving at very high speeds
• Shows extreme mood swings
• More or less food or sleep
• Increased drug or alcohol use

If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, seek help as soon as possible, especially if the behaviour is latest or has recently grow to be more severe.

You are not alone.