Suicide is a major, preventable public health problem.

[ScreamingMeemie]

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-prevention/index.shtml
snip-

In 2007, it was the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 34,598 deaths. The overall rate was 11.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 people.An estimated 11 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death.

-snip

snip-

Suicidal behavior is complex. Some risk factors vary with age, gender, or ethnic group and may occur in combination or change over time.

-snip

I have lost a husband, a father-in-law, a grandfather-in-law, and a cousin. This is an epidemic in my family.

Together we can work together on this. We can make it so thousands of us are not left behind to wonder why.

I want my son to live.

http://www.afsp.org/
http://www.sprc.org/
http://www.twloha.com/
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

[On the Road]

1. Check the Link

It seems to be truncated.

I would like to hear why the authors think it's preventable. There's been no suicide in my family, but I dated a girl who had a family history of suicide and was suicidal herself. It seems like a very difficult pattern to root out.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Fixed, and thank you.

I believe it is preventable, given attention and more than just a hotline to call.

Also, edited to add, I believe that, in my family, each suicide made the next suicide that much easier to contemplate and complete.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Unrec's based upon dislike for a poster, when dealing with a real

and devastating issue are heartbreaking to see... Thank you, whoever you are. You are a peach, and you should be proud. :(

[lightningandsnow]

4. Thanks so much for posting.

:hug:

How are you doing, by the way?

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. I am okay. To be honest, it amazes me that I am still breathing sometimes.

The move away from the memories was the right thing to do. Our son is doing much better than I expected and our daughter is coming down for the winter. Some days I pretend I am someone else to get through the day but, all in all, we're okay.

How have you been? I think about you often. :hug:

[lightningandsnow]

7. I'm doing quite well.

My bipolar is under control, I'm loving school and volunteering. I'm glad you're doing okay, but sorry to hear that things are still hard for you. Good to see you around here! I think of you often as well.

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. That is great news that you are doing so well.

It is awesome that you volunteer. :hug:

[MineralMan]

6. You are certainly right about that. When influenza kills 30,000

people a year, we mount a huge program to create vaccines against influenza. Suicide gets no such major investment in research and aid to potential victims. It's such a complex issue, and suicides happen for such a wide range of reasons, or so it seems. In reality, the reason is a lack of hope, in almost all cases. Sometimes, it's financial. Sometimes it's caused by mental illness that isn't successfully treated. Sometimes it's harassment and bullying by bigoted people. But, in almost all cases, it is the loss of hope that leads people to take their own lives.

We need more reasons to hope.

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. ...and sometimes there's no real answer at all. That's why survivors

say they die a thousand deaths, while a suicide dies just once. Thank you mm

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Thinking of you!

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. .

:hug:

I miss you!

[lapislzi]

9. thank you for posting this

And reframing suicide as a public health issue.

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. You are welcome.

The time is way past for more attention to this cause.

[fizzgig]

10. kick

[Duncan Grant]

12. An invisible epidemic.

I was stunned to read this:

Each year since 2001, over 30,000 people have died by suicide in the U.S. -- twice the number who die as a result of complications related to HIV/AIDS, and suicides outnumber homicides by three to two. Results from a recent report by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that more than 8 million adults in the U.S. have thought seriously about suicide over the past year, and over 1 million have attempted. This reinforces the need to improve national suicide prevention efforts.

http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_ID=3ACCAA2D-E7EB-73F0-E2F274182DA83026">Link

Happy to ally with you to create more awareness. :thumbsup:

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. Thank you Duncan.

I appreciate it. I've made it my mission to bring more attention, more help, more caring. :yourock:

[Jamastiene]

13. K&R

:hug:

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. ...

:hug:

It's good to see you.

[Jamastiene]

19. It is good to see you too.

:)

[Terra Alta]

20. It could have been 34,599 in 2007

I was going through a really rough time in 2007, and did try to take my own life.. suicide is a real problem in this country and it needs to be addressed.

Over three years later, and I have come a long way. I'm on medication and seeing a therapist, and lately I've been as happy as I've ever been. My hope and prayer is that people will get the help they need, and be surrounded by caring friends and family. Even one person lost to suicide is too many.

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. I am glad it wasn't you.

We would have missed you. We lost my husband in 2007. It could have been 34,597.

:hug: I am glad you got help.

[Terra Alta]

22. Thank you.

And sorry for your loss. Hope your son is doing well. :hug: