Communities for Change: Preventing Suicide

We lose someone to suicide every 12 minutes in the United States, and the suicide rate has increased almost 30% in the last two decades. Suicidal attempts and ideations have risen among children and teens in recent years, particularly among girls. Veterans and LGBT youth also face unique risks as suicide rates are higher in these demographic groups relative to nonveterans and heterosexual youth. In addition to the enormous emotional toll of suicide and self-harm, the combined medical and work loss costs amount to over $56.9 billion per year.

Suicide is preventable with treatment and support. The third part in our Defying Despair series delved deeper into the data on suicides and explored a range of initiatives designed to prevent suicide in different communities, including:

• An overview of the statistics on suicide and implications for preventative efforts
• Discussion of a statewide initiative to improve student mental health and prevent suicide on Michigan college campuses
• Trends in suicide among veterans and active duty service members and programs designed to serve this community
• The Trevor Project’s work in providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth

If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.