What can you do on National Suicide Prevention Day?

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness month and September 10th is National Suicide Prevention Day.  I thought it appropriate to write this blog since my husband Steve died by suicide on September 14^th. You also may have lost a loved one to suicide. If so, I am very sorry for your loss. If you follow me you know that my message is about processing your grief and learning to live and love life after loss. It’s one of transformation.

In 2005 when Steve died suicide awareness was not as it is today and I am grateful that it’s no longer considered taboo to talk about it. People don’t die by suicide because they are bad or evil. It wasn’t that long ago when that was a belief held by many. It’s certainly not for me but still may be for some. Thus the reason more education needs to be implemented in our society.

As a survivor I believe it’s particularly important for us to talk about how we have been affected by our tragedy. We need the support of each other. And the same is true for those who are contemplating suicide. They also need to hear our story. I understand that mental illness often clouds logical thinking, but it’s important that our voices be heard. It’s possible your story or mine could save a life.

Important facts to mention from AFSP and IASP

In the United States:

• Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death
• Approximately, 144,193 Americans die by suicide each year
• On average 130 suicides happen each day
• Men are 3.5 times more likely than women to take their lives 
• The rate of suicide is highest in middle age — for white men in particular
• Females attempt suicide three times more often than males

Worldwide facts related to suicide:

• Suicide is the 15^th leading cause of death
• The suicide rate is 15/100,000 for males and 8/100,000 for females
• Out of the 61 WHO (World Health Organization) countries, suicide is still currently criminalized in 20 of them
• In an additional 20 suicide attempters may be punished with jail sentence according to Sharia Law.

Suicide is the result of a convergence of risk factors including but not limited to genetic, psychological, social and cultural risk factors, sometimes combined with experiences of trauma and loss.  One sad story is Michelle Carter’s recent conviction.

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in people who die by suicide

50% of individuals in high-income countries who die by suicide have major depressive disorder at their time of death

60 people are affected by each suicide death

This equates to 48 million people bereaved by suicide worldwide every year

Relatives and close friends of people who die by suicide are a high-risk group for suicide, due to:

• The psychological trauma of a suicide loss
• Potential shared familial and environmental risk
• Suicide contagion through the process of social modeling, and the burden of stigma associated with this loss.

Disturbing fact

I find 48 million an unbelievably disturbing amount. It instills the fact that we need more community, love and compassion for one another.

Some effective Suicide Prevention Strategies:

• Treatment of Depression
• Ensure chain of care
• Universal School based prevention

There are limitations due to:

• Insufficient resources
• Ineffective coordination
• Limited access to surveillance data on suicide and self-harm
• Lack of enforced guidelines
• Lack of independent and systematic evaluation

What can you do?

You may ask what can you do to make any difference at all? On September 10^th light a candle and put it near a widow to show your support. I do it in remembrance of Steve and for all those who are suffering in our world today. Another thing that you can do is to show an act of kindness to someone everyday. Either a stranger, close family member or acquaintance. If you see them in distress be compassionate and ask if they are ok. This often opens the door for others to confide in you or ask for help. Interaction is needed with others and that is a simple way to show you care.

Let’s all show love and compassion towards one another. It is the start of creating community.

In addition, we also need to listen to one another. In our busy worlds we often don’t take the time to do it. We can learn from those who have attempted suicide and we can learn from the bereaved that have lost loved ones. We  need to start talking and listening to one another again! This will create trust and empathy. It begins with you! Therefore, know you can make a difference.

Please remember to mark your calendar on September 10^th for National Suicide Prevention Day and share this with all your friends!

If you would like a free 20 minute coaching call contact me.

Some helpful resources for you.

Online courses on UDEMY

Grief, A New Way of Thinking

Change Your Brain-Create An Excellent Life

Be Gentle with Me, I’m Grieving

Books on Amazon

Ten Grief Lessons from Golf

Three Must Connections for Inner Peace

Be Gentle with Me, I’m Grieving

Moving to Excellence, A Pathway to Transformation after Grief

P.S.  I know some of you reading this have gone through your healing journey and feel that you are in a position to help others but don’t know where to start.  Start here at the Grief Healing LLC where you can be trained to become a certified grief healing coach.

Love and light,

Robin Chodak

Certified Grief, Life, Spiritual Coach

Certified Master NLP Practitioner, Reiki Practitioner, Mindfulness Meditation teacher