By: Julie Wheeler

WHO IS AT RISK?  The elderly have the highest suicide rate, particularly older white males.  People who suffer from mental illness, substance abuse, previous suicide attempts, have a family history of suicide, history of being sexually abused, and impulsive or aggressive tendencies have a higher chance of dying from suicide.  Lack of serotonin in the brain is a leading cause of suicidal thoughts and it has been found that both depression and suicidal behavior can be linked to a decreased amount of serotonin.

RISK FACTORS CONTINUED  Firearms increase the chance of suicide in a home.  Someone who is or has suffered from depression is more likely to die by suicide.  “Suicide Contagion”: This is when people are over exposed to suicide in their lives but more in the news. They give too many details on the suicide such as acute stressors that person suffered from. This can plant suicidal thoughts in someone's mind

STATISTICS  Nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year.  In the U.S., suicide rates are highest during the spring.  Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds and second for 24- to 35-year-olds.  On average, one person commits suicide every 16.2 minutes.  Each suicide intimately affects at least six other people.  About two-thirds of people who complete suicide are depressed at the time of their deaths. Depression that is untreated, undiagnosed, or ineffectively treated is the number one cause of suicide.

STATISTICS CONTINUED  There is one suicide for every 25 attempted suicides.  Males make up 79 percent of all suicides, while women are more prone to having suicidal thoughts.  1 in 65,000 children ages 10 to 14 commit suicide each year.  There are twice as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS.

HOW TO PREVENT IT  Speak up if you are worried The best way to find out is to ask, its hard for suicidal people to say how they feel  Respond quickly in crisis If someone expresses they wish to take their own life, a quick response is necessary.  Offer help and support Be a listening ear, show them you care

WARNING SIGNS  Talking about suicide  Seeking out lethal means  Preoccupation with death  No hope for the future  Self-loathing, self-hatred  Getting affairs in order  Saying goodbye  Withdrawing from others  Self-destructive behavior

FUN FACTS  Alaska has the highest suicide rate, being at 21.8 out of 100,000 people dying by suicide  China accounts for nearly a quarter of the global total of suicides with between 250,000 and 300,000 suicides a year  Throughout the world, approximately 2,000 people kill themselves each day  5 to 10% of suicides take place in mental hospitals

FUN FACTS CONTINUED  Since the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, more than 1,200 people have jumped to their deaths, making it the number one spot in the world for suicides  One suicide victim who committed suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge left behind a note saying: “I’m going to walk to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump.”

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WORKS CITED  Melinda, S.. N.p.. Web. 26 Mar . N.p.. Web. 26 Mar  Requiem - A Short Film About Teen Suicide. N.d. video. youtube.comWeb. 26 Mar

WORKS CITED  "Suicide:20 States With Highest Rate." CBSNEWS. N.p.. Web. 26 Mar  "11 Facts About Suicide." dosomething.org. N.p.. Web. 26 Mar