National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 4 through Sept. 10, 2022, is a time to increase awareness and encourage the prevention of suicide. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Suicide is the act of taking one’s own life by intentional self-harm or self-inflicted injury. Non-fatal self-inflicted injuries are more common, and not all self-inflicted injuries are suicide attempts. Suicide affects all ages. It is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34, the fourth leading cause among people ages 34-54, and the fifth leading cause among people ages 45-54.

Some groups have higher suicide rates than others. 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 are lesbian, gay, or bisexual have a higher rate of suicidal ideation and behavior compared to their peers who identify as straight. In 2022; 19.86% of adults are experiencing a mental illness. Equivalent to nearly 50 million Americans. 4.91% are experiencing a severe mental illness.

There is help available. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) offers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week call, text, and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.

Federal legislation passed in 2020, required by July 16, 2022, the number 988 will connect callers to the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system. There is no charge to speak to a trained mental health counselor. You are not alone. There is help available.

For more information:
https://www.floridahealth.gov/PROGRAMS-AND-SERVICES/prevention/suicide-prevention/index.html
https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/988-fact-sheet.pdf
https://floridasuicideprevention.org/