Everyone acknowledges the misfortune of developing cancer or heart disease or even being born with a birth defect, but there is much larger problem that is the second leading cause of death for people 10 to 24 years of age, suicide; which is being dubbed the “silent epidemic” (The Jason Foundation). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the only cause of death for young adults in America more prominent than suicide is unintentional injury, which includes car crashes, falls, and sports related traumatic brain injuries (CDC). In 2013, the suicide rate for young adults was 10,900, which has steadily increased since 2006 (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention). This means approximately 210 young people ended their own
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This cause of death is seen in people of all ages, gender, and races. Other than children less than age 14, the 15 to 24-year-old range has the lowest suicide rate, while 45 to 64 and 85+ having the two highest rates, about 800,000 more than the young adult group (American Federation for Suicide Prevention). As for gender, The Jason Foundation mentions, “females attempt suicide more than three times as often as males; however, males die by suicide more than four times as often as females”. Suicidal tendencies are seen the most in Native Americans, followed by Caucasians, then African-Americans, and fourthly, Hispanics. Higher suicides rates are also seen in individuals who identify in the LGBTQ community (The Jason …show more content…
Someone may recognize some signs by themselves but refuse to act on them for fear of “am I actually crazy?” Also, when more and more people say it is “just a phase” or “just be happier,” people with actual mental illnesses start to believe that the stigmas are right, and it is demoralizing to feel like you should be able to just get better because you want to and others said so. The solution to this problem is incredibly simple, all it takes is time, a little effort, and an open mind. Suicide and mental illness are rarely discussed due to the general discomfort of the conversation, but the only way to make things better is by talking about them. There is a myth that talking about suicide gives someone the idea to commit suicide. When in reality, talking about suicide opens the door for people to express their feelings and provides relief because they no longer have to keep those feelings to themselves, which makes their situation exponentially better (The Jason
This cause of death is seen in people of all ages, gender, and races. Other than children less than age 14, the 15 to 24-year-old range has the lowest suicide rate, while 45 to 64 and 85+ having the two highest rates, about 800,000 more than the young adult group (American Federation for Suicide Prevention). As for gender, The Jason Foundation mentions, “females attempt suicide more than three times as often as males; however, males die by suicide more than four times as often as females”. Suicidal tendencies are seen the most in Native Americans, followed by Caucasians, then African-Americans, and fourthly, Hispanics. Higher suicides rates are also seen in individuals who identify in the LGBTQ community (The Jason …show more content…
Someone may recognize some signs by themselves but refuse to act on them for fear of “am I actually crazy?” Also, when more and more people say it is “just a phase” or “just be happier,” people with actual mental illnesses start to believe that the stigmas are right, and it is demoralizing to feel like you should be able to just get better because you want to and others said so. The solution to this problem is incredibly simple, all it takes is time, a little effort, and an open mind. Suicide and mental illness are rarely discussed due to the general discomfort of the conversation, but the only way to make things better is by talking about them. There is a myth that talking about suicide gives someone the idea to commit suicide. When in reality, talking about suicide opens the door for people to express their feelings and provides relief because they no longer have to keep those feelings to themselves, which makes their situation exponentially better (The Jason