Definitions
SUICIDE is death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die.
SUICIDE ATTEMPT is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions.
Feeling SUICIDAL or SUICIDE IDEATION can mean having abstract thoughts about ending your life or feeling that people would be better off without you. Or it can mean thinking about methods of suicide or making clear plans to take your own life.
Prevalence of Suicide
The Center for Disease Control has labeled suicide as a public health problem. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with 45,979 deaths in 2020. This is about one death every 11 minutes. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2020, an estimated 12.2 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.2 million attempted suicide.
In 2020, suicide was among the top 9 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64; and was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34.
In 2019, there were 54,134 deaths from suicide in Wisconsin.
In 2020, there were 62,637 deaths from suicide in Wisconsin. This is an increase of 8,503 from 2019.
In 2019, there were 23 deaths from suicide in Washington County.
In 2020, there were 15 deaths from suicide in Washington County.
Myths & Facts About Suicide
Myth: Asking a person about suicide will only make them angry and increase the risk of suicide.
- Fact: Asking someone directly about suicidal intent opens up communication, reduces anxiety, and lowers the risk of an act of self-destruction.
Myth: Only experts can prevent suicide.
- Fact: Suicide prevention is everybody’s business, and anyone can prevent the tragedy of suicide.
Myth: Asking a person about suicide will only make them angry and increase the risk of suicide.
- Fact: Asking someone directly about suicidal intent opens up communication, reduces anxiety, and lowers the risk of an act of self-destruction
Myth: Only experts can prevent suicide.
- Fact: Suicide prevention is everybody’s business, and anyone can prevent the tragedy of suicide.
Myth: People considering suicide keep their plans to themselves.
- Fact: Most people considering suicide communicate their intent sometime during the week preceding their attempt.
Myth: Those who talk about suicide don’t do it.
- Fact: People who talk about suicide may attempt an act of self-destruction.
Myth: Once a person decides to attempt suicide, there is nothing anyone can do to stop them.
- Fact: Suicide is the most preventable kind of death, and almost any positive action may save a life.
Risk Factors & Warnings Signs
Risk factors are characteristics which increase the possibility of suicide, however they are not the direct cause of suicide.
Risk factors can’t cause nor can they predict a suicide attempt.
Common Risk Factors
- Feeling hopeless
- Family history of suicide or personal history of previous suicide attempts
- History of trauma or abuse
- Untreated mental health conditions
- Diagnosed mental health conditions, particularly mood disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and certain personality disorders
- Lack of social support and sense of isolation
- Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
- Alcohol and other substance use disorders
- Major physical illnesses
- Job or financial loss
- Loss of relationship(s)
Some groups have higher suicide rates than others. Suicide rates vary by race/ethnicity, age, and other factors, such as where someone lives. By race/ethnicity, the groups with the highest rates were non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native and non-Hispanic White populations. Other Americans with higher than average rates of suicide are veterans, people who live in rural areas, and workers in certain industries and occupations like mining and construction. Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual have higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behavior compared to their peers who identify as heterosexual. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
WARNING SIGNS
A warning sign is an early signal or indicator something bad or dangerous might happen.
There are some warning signs that may help you determine if a loved one is at risk for suicide, especially if a behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change.
Common Warning Signs
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
- Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
- Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or isolating themselves
- Extreme mood swings
The more risk factors and warning signs observed, the greater the risk. Take all signs seriously.
Verbal Cues
DIRECT VERBAL CLUES
- “I’ve decided to kill myself.”
- “I wish I were dead.”
- “I’m going to commit suicide.”
- “I’m going to end it all.”
- “If (such and such) doesn’t happen, I’ll kill myself.”
INDIRECT VERBAL CLUES
- “I’m tired of my life, I just can’t go on.”
- “My family would be better off without me.”
- “Who cares if I am dead anyway.”
- “I just want out.”
- “Soon you won’t have to worry about me.”
Resources for Suicide Prevention
If you or someone you know is currently in danger of hurting themselves, please call 988 – the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You are not alone, there is help.
To learn more about how you can help someone who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, feeling hopeless, or feeling depressed, NAMI Washington County offers a suicide prevention training. Offered on the second Thursday of each month at the NAMI Welcome Center 6:15 – 8:00 pm, certified instructors teach QPR, A Suicide Prevention Training. Click here to register for QPR.
QPR is designed to help you save a life. QPR consists of these three skills:
- Question … a person about suicide
- Persuade … someone to get help and,
- Refer … someone to the appropriate resource
QPR is not a form on counseling or treatment. Rather it is intended to offer hope through positive action. By learning QPR, you will come to recognize the warning signs, clues, and suicidal communications of people in trouble, and gain skills to act vigorously to prevent a possible tragedy.
Much like the Heimlich maneuver, the fundamentals of QPR are easily learned. As with CPR and the Heimlich maneuver, the use of QPR can save a life.
To register for the class, please call (262) 339-1235 or click here for more information.
LOCAL RESOURCES
Washington County Behavioral Health Services
Acute Care Services
262-365-6565
COPE Hotline 24/7 Emotional Support
262-377-2673
For crisis support by text
text HOPELINE to 741741
For emotional support by text
text NAMI to 741741
For other Washington County resources
Dial 211
National Resources
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Dial 988
The Trevor Project
LGBTQ Youth Hotline
1-866-488-7386
Veterans Crisis Line
1-800-273-8255
Videos
The following videos focus on the topic of suicide. Some images and/or verbiage may be triggering to a person who is/has struggled with suicidal thoughts/experiences.
Suicide attempt survivors bust myths about suicide
From darkness to light: Carson’s story of strength and survival
