Suicide Awareness & Prevention

The key is training-being able to understand when a person is showing either by words or actions that they are contemplating suicide and are seeking for others to get involved. Although, others need to have the necessary skills and confidence to engage in conversation, rather than to avoid or dismiss due to lack of training (Bertrand, 2021).  

  • Suicide Stats

    Verified Suicides to Date (BLUE H.E.L.P., 2024):

    2024: 101 as of 12/17/2024

    2023: 132

    2022: 187

    2021: 171

    2020: 185

    2019: 237

    2018: 187

    2017: 176

    2016: 159

  • Suicide Awareness

    Factors Associated with Law Enforcement (IACP: An Issue Brief , 2018):

    Treatment for a mental health condition

    PTSD diagnosis

    Alcohol & substance misuse

    Job problems

    Intimate partner problems

    Access to lethal means

    Social isolation

    Warning Signs (Suicide Prevention-Crisis Center):

    Psychological:

    Prior history of psychiatric disorder

    Depression, despair, hopelessness

    Obsessive thinking

    Mood swings

    Feelings of burdening others

    Sense of not belonging

    Extreme guilt or shame

    Extreme anxiety

    Behavioral:

    Previous suicide attempts

    Verbal indications

    Difficulty making decisions

    Loss of energy

    Change of habits, decrease in pleasurable activities

    Giving away possession

    Excessive sleep/insomnia

    Withdraw, alienation from support system

    Risk taking: speeding, drunk driving, self-mutilations

    Frequent alcohol or drug abuse

    Situational:

    Loss of significant other

    Loss of health or functions/abilities

    Loss of status and/or role

    Threatened change: family/marital status, job, home, security, legalities

    Sexual or physical abuse

    Trauma/ Accident

    Isolation

    Family history of-abuse, suicide, violence, discord

  • Prevention

    Prevention: Refers to the act of preventing or hindering (i.e.- it is better to stop a problem, illness, etc., from happening than to stop or correct it after it has started.) (Prevention: Definition of Prevention by Merriam-Webster, 2020).

    Protective Factors (IACP: An Issue Brief , 2018):

    Reason for living (e.g., responsibility for young children, future goals)

    Being married

    Extraversion and optimism

    Cultural, religious, or personal beliefs that discourage suicide

    Life skills (Including problem solving and coping skills)

    Having a support social network

    Access to mental health care