It is National Suicide Prevention Month. All of September in many places across the globe, communities are celebrating and addressing the very needed topic of suicide. According to the 2021 World Health Organization report, Suicide Worldwide in 2019: Global Health Estimates Report, suicide is a serious global public health issue. Globally, 703 000 people die by suicide every year. Suicide is among the leading causes of death worldwide, with more deaths due to suicide than to malaria, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, or war and homicide. More than one in every 100 deaths (1.3%) in 2019 were the result of suicide.
The need to spread awareness
Suicide like mental health, is a very taboo topic. It is a topic that is usually discussed after a tragedy has occurred. It is usually until we MUST talk about the rising rates of suicide or how someone we know (or knew) commits the act or attempts to commit the act that this topic receives any attention. Therefore I am happy that suicide prevention has a specific month in which individuals are inclined to spread more awareness.
When looking at the statistics for suicide, I was a bit surprised at the rates provided for teenagers and adolescents; however, there are some statistics that didn’t seem to change or be surprising. One of the unsurprising statistics was regarding gender. Men commit suicide more than women. (Although women make more attempts at almost twice the rate, men are more successful.) Further, suicide seems to be more prevalent among whites than blacks in the U.S. There are reasons for these differences.
Men, women, mental health and suicide
It is said that women suffer from mental illness such as depression and anxiety more than men.
Depression, anxiety, bodily symptoms and high rates of comorbidity are significantly related to interconnected risk factors such as gender-based roles, stressors and negative life experiences and events.
According to the WHO, gender specific risk factors for common mental disorders that disproportionately affect women include gender-based violence, socioeconomic disadvantage, low income and income inequality, low or subordinate social status and rank and unremitting responsibility for the care of others.
The high prevalence of sexual violence to which women are exposed and the correspondingly high rate of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following such violence, renders women the largest single group of people affected by this disorder. The mental health impact of long term, cumulative psychosocial adversity has not been adequately investigated.
Further, restructuring has a gender specific effect on mental health. Economic and social policies that cause sudden, disruptive and severe changes to income, employment and social capital that cannot be controlled or avoided, significantly increase gender inequality and the rate of common mental disorders.
Mental differences in men and women
There aren’t just differences between men and women socioeconomically, there are distinctions between men and women biologically. One of the most interesting things that I have learned in my time studying mental health is the difference between men and women. We are different — from the inside to the outside, mentally and emotionally, we are not the same. (Although there are some similarities.) The neuroscience literature shows that the, “human brain is a sex-typed organ with distinct anatomical differences in neural structures and accompanying physiological differences in function,” says UC-Irvine professor of neurobiology and behavior Larry Cahill, PhD.
I believe the internal dynamics that cause women to experience more mental health issues is paradoxically same reason women have less suicide rates than men. Women biologically carry children. Our bodies are made in such a way that we can carry children. From our hips to our breast and female internal organs, we are biologically made to develop children. Women also have psychological and emotional differences that help us to deal with carrying and rearing children. These same factors that help us to nurture children also help us to experience the negative components that come from hormonal changes. Further, women may feel they have more to lose when caring for children, which may keep many from completing the deed.
Can purpose help buffer against the thoughts of suicide?
I can remember an interview on The Wendy Williams Radio Show (WBLS-FM) on January 30, 2003 with Whitney Houston. Mrs. Williams asked Whitney Houston if she ever considered ending it all. She replied that she could not consider committing suicide as “she has a child to live for”. Bobby Kristina was 9 at the time. To listen to this very interesting interview, please see it here. (Be mindful, there is some foul language.) If this were the case for most women, it would help to explain why women tend to suffer more and yet die less from suicide.
Another reason is that men tend to be more aggressive by nature, and when a decision is made to commit suicide, the men choose means that will not fail (namely firearms).
Black people and suicide
There is something to be said about struggle. A person who has gone through much trial, and is fortified through it, can deal with tribulation better than those who are not used to dealing with warfare. This is what many say about the black community. Black people are so used to dealing with injustice and trouble that we learn to deal with it and find ways through it. We learn to suck it up; however, “sucking it up” can have its consequences, namely in our health and mental un-wellness. Constantly dealing with pains and troubles can later express itself through anger and aggression, bad habits such as unhealthy eating and drinking, and mental illness.
How prevalent is suicide in the black community?
According to Suicide Prevention Resource Center, among black populations suicide rates peak during adolescence and young adulthood, then decline. This is a different pattern than is seen in the overall U.S. population, where suicide rates peak in midlife. As in the overall U.S. population, the suicide death rate for men is more than four times the rate for women in black populations. The suicide death rate for the overall U.S. population is approximately double that of black populations for both males and females.
Compared to the overall U.S. population, black adults reported less percentages of past-year serious thoughts of suicide and a past-year suicide plan. However, the percentage of past-year suicide attempt was higher in black adult populations than the overall U.S.
Are suicide rates rising among black youth?
Researchers have been trying to find out what’s causing the rise in depression and suicide among black kids and teens — a problem that’s continuing to grow. Today, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among black children ages 10 to 19. And that rate is rising faster for them than for any other racial or ethnic group. According to a report and analysis of CDC data, the rise in suicide attempts among black adolescents has been increasing since 1991 — rising a staggering 73% over the last 25 years.
It’s not just black adolescents feeling the increase of mental stress, during this pandemic, many children were in need to help. In fact, CHOP and children’s hospitals across the country saw a major spike in mental health crises — more than a lot of them could handle.
Barriers to help?
The report also stated that the difficulty affecting children and the barriers to treatment have been especially magnified for black families. African Americans were hit harder by the pandemic, both physically and financially.
There have been many stressors over the past year and a half related more explicitly to race. The murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are examples of such insensitivities that became inescapable for lots of black youth. However, it’s not that black families haven’t just been facing unique problems, they’ve faced unique barriers to getting help.
A common barrier is the lack of cultural competence of physicians, mental health workers and clinicians. There is a severe deficit in education (and in many respects, a resounding neglect) of the mental trauma black communities suffered through in those caring for them. Health care workers should educate themselves about the history surrounding slavery, the fight for civil rights, and police brutality to effectively speak to and treat the mental health conditions of black people.
Suicide declining globally, and increasing in the Americas
The report Suicide Worldwide in 2019: Global Health Estimates stated that in the 20 years between 2000 and 2019, the global age-standardized suicide rate decreased by 36%, with decreases ranging from 17% in the Eastern Mediterranean region to 47% in the European region and 49% in the Western Pacific region. The only increase in age-standardized suicide rates was in the region of the Americas, reaching 17% in the same time-period. The global rate also decreased for age-group specific rates.
Loneliness and suicide
For men (not for women) living alone or living with a non-partner increased the risk of suicide, a finding not explained by subjective loneliness. Overall, loneliness may be more important as a risk factor for self-harm than for suicide.
What are the signs to look out for?
Certain factors like substance abuse and untreated depression can lead to higher risk of suicide; however, these are not the only causes. See below for warning signs to pay attention to:
- Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself
- Looking for a way to kill oneself
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
- Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
- Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Withdrawing or feeling isolated
- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge; and
- Displaying extreme mood swings
How can we all help to prevent suicides?
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides insightful tips on how we all can help to spread suicide prevention awareness. Evidence shows that providing support services, talking about suicide, reducing access to means of self-harm, and following up with loved ones are just some of the actions we can all take to help others.
You can do something now!
Click this link to a webpage of sharable resources for you to use today.
If you have opportunity to get even more involved. Wellandgood.com offers great ways for you to do just that:
- Donate or raise funds for an organization offering resources
- Become a trained crisis counselor
- Take a mental health first aid training course
- Organize a suicide prevention walk or run
- Become an advocate of AFSP
- Send a card or a care box to someone who is struggling
- If you are a suicide survivor, share your story
Please also see my resources page for additional assistance.
Prayer changes things
Prayer does change things. Prayer should be at the forefront of all these things. Pray without ceasing, as the Word says, is not a suggestion but command. Continue to pray, support organizations doing the work and spread awareness.