Suicide Prevention Week 2004
Suicide Prevention Week 2004
by Kevin Caruso
September 3, 2004
National Suicide Prevention Week has been moved from May to September to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, 2004).
This year's theme is "Working Together to Save Lives." And the objective is to bring together as many people as possible in the effort to prevent suicide. With teamwork and collaboration, together we can save lives.
Important U.S. suicide statistics to keep in mind during suicide prevention week include:
- Over 30,000 people did by suicide each year.
- Someone dies by suicide every 17 minutes.
- Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for youth aged 15 to 24.
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for college students.
- A firearm is the most common method for suicide. (55% of all suicides involve a firearm.)
- There are about 750,000 suicide attempts each year.
And please keep the following facts in mind:
- Untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.
- Over 90 percent of the people who die by suicide have a mental illness at the time of their death.
- The stigma associated with mental illness causes prevents many people from seeking help for their mental illness.
- The stigma associated with suicide causes deep emotional pain for suicide survivors and
can prevent them from receiving the unconditional love, support, and respect that they deserve.
- Suicide is preventable.
- 1-800-SUICIDE is a number that a suicidal person can call 24 hours a day from any location in the United States.
Please tell others about Suicide.org -- it is a great place to learn about suicide.
If you or someone you know is suicidal, please go to the Home Page of this website for immediate help.
Thank you.
I love you.
Take care,
Kevin Caruso
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