The Tenth Leading Cause of Death in the United States

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Out of all of the leading causes of death suicide is the one cause we speak little of and seek the least intervention to prevent. Suicide — after the fact, is a tragic embarrassment to those who have lost someone yet prior to a friend or  loved-one taking their life the silence they hear from us is often deafening.

Why do we turn our backs when someone is suffering depression?

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I understand it isn’t easy to deal with someone who is down all of the time. I even understand it gets tiresome always trying to lift their spirits and offer logic while addressing their pain, but by offering our advice we are closing our minds to what they are asking of us. What they need from us, which is usually just an ear and some semblance of genuine care.

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The latest statistics on suicide are staggering. Recently the Social Work Degree Center reached out to me — because of all of my writing on the subject of suicide (see: HERE, HERE and HERE). They showed me their latest work on a wonderful graphic that breaks this important info down into digestible pieces and I would like to share it with my readers here (below).

If you or someone you know is depressed or withdrawn, pay attention, seek help and no matter what, don’t walk-away and pretend they will “get over it”. Next week is “Suicide Prevention/Awareness” week, but we should be talking about this more than once a year. We all have a responsibility to one another. That responsibility based on our ability to care is what makes us human. 

IMAGE SOURCE: socialworkdegreecenter.com