Wellfie Wednesday Tip #115: National Suicide Awareness Month

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Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Welcome back!

September is National Suicide Awareness Month in the United States.

Every year, 45,000 American lives are lost to suicide and it is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Globally, around 800,000 deaths per year are by suicide and is the second leading cause of death for 15-29 year olds. On average, there are 123 suicides per day and men are 3.53x more likely to die due to suicide compared to women. When it comes to suicide and suicide attempts there are rate differences depending on demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity and race. Nonetheless, suicide occurs in all demographic groups.

Suicide rates are on the rise in the United States, 11.27 per 100,000 individuals in 2007 compared to 13.42 per 100,000 individuals in 2016 (that’s a 2.15 per 100,000 individuals in just 10 years). It is difficult to recognize mental illnesses, many people show no symptoms. But there are signs you can look for that could indicate potential suicide; eight out of ten people considering suicide give some indication of their intentions.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or is in a crisis, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Every “level” of crisis is valid, your emotions are real, and you matter. You are not alone.

Below are hotlines accessible to those in the United States and Canada.

United States:

  • National Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255

  • For hard of hearing (TTY): 1-800-799-4TTY

  • Spanish: 1-888-628-9454

  • *Tele-interpreter is available for more languages

Canada:

  • Canadian Suicide Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-3000

  • Canadian TTY Hotline: 1-800-448-1833



Thanks for all of the support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @AaronPerezPT, @DianaKlatt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

  • WW Crew

*Statistics from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Data & Statistics Fatal Injury Report for 2016.