Suicide & Mental Illness

Facts

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-24.
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for college age youth 12-18.
• More teenagers die from suicide than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, influenza, pneumonia, and lung disease COMBINED.
• Each day in our nation there is an average of  over 5,240  attempts by young people grades 7-12.
• Four out of Five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs. 

Statistics provided by CDC.Gov

Recognizing signs of a depressive episode or depression; shows symptoms for 2 weeks or more:

• Loss of interest in most activities
• Significant unintentional change in weight or appetite
• Sleep disturbances
• Decreased energy, chronic fatigue or tiredness, feeling exhausted
• Feelings of excessive guilt
• Feelings of low self-esteem, low self-confidence, or worthlessness
• Feelings of despair or hopelessness (pervasive pessimism about the future)
• Avoidance of normal familial and social contacts
• Frequent agitation, restlessness
• Psychologically or emotionally detached
• Feelings of irritability or frustration
• Decrease in activity, effectiveness, or productivity
• Difficulty in thinking (poor concentration, poor memory, or indecisiveness)
• Excessive or inappropriate worries
• Being easily moved to tears
• Anticipation of the worst
• Thoughts of suicide

Source:

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Managing Depressive Symptoms in Substance Abuse Clients During Early Recovery. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 48. DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 08-4353. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2008.

Recognizing Signs of Suicidal Behavior:

• Withdrawn
• Moody
• Talks about self in past-tense
• Loss of interest in things that were once enjoyable
• Makes Preparations: getting personal business in order
• Change of appetite
• Change in sleeping habits
• Hopelessness
• Dangerous or self-harming behavior