To raise awareness about suicide prevention, mental health organizations released the results of a new survey, and the numbers suggest Americans are getting smarter about mental health and suicide prevention.
The survey found that almost everyone (94 percent) believes that suicide can sometimes or always be prevented. Most adults (93 percent) would do something if someone close to them was thinking about suicide, and 67 percent said that they would tell someone if they were having thoughts of suicide. These are encouraging numbers, signs that people recognize suicide is a problem to address rather than to hide. The survey was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the Anxiety Depression Association of America, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
We also know that suicide takes a particularly hard toll on people with severe mental illness.
The lifetime risk of suicide among individuals with schizophrenia is about 5 percent, and with bipolar disorder is 10-15 percent. The rate of attempted suicide in individuals with severe mental illness is much higher, with some studies reporting 50 percent.
For those living with mental health conditions, it’s about engaging in the most effective treatment to manage symptoms and maintain quality of life. When someone is thinking about suicide it is important to develop strategies for dealing with these thoughts and engaging a support network of family, friends and professionals who know the warning signs of suicide and what might be helpful. Developing and sharing a safety plan for periods of increased symptoms or distress can provide ways to work through challenging and stressful moments.
There are many treatments and tools that people can use to maintain a sense of well-being and have quality of life when living with mental health conditions.
We need to reinforce the message of hope.
You can use National Suicide Prevention Week as an occasion to touch base with friends and family. Visit our website to learn more.
