Rising suicide rates are a wake-up call for all of us
It was with great sadness to learn last week of the unfortunate deaths of famed handbag fashion designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef, author and television host Anthony Bourdain.
According to CNN, Bourdain, 61, was on location in France filming for the network’s show “Parts Unknown” when he took his own life in his hotel room.
Days before, Spade, 55, hanged herself in her New York City apartment, leaving behind a teenage daughter. On Thursday, the New York City medical examiner confirmed the cause of her death to be suicide.
Both tragic incidents left a nation stunned, saddened and wondering why.
It is yet another reminder that life isn’t always what it seems — that sometimes outside appearances may not always reflect the turmoil on the inside.
The heartache we feel when those in the spotlight end their own lives should also be a reminder that suicide is a result of a disease, classified by many professionals as an epidemic. It is happening not only to those struggling with high-power, high-profile lifestyles, but also for those in every neighborhood across America struggling in other ways — bullying, financial despair, relationship troubles, unknown demons.
Suicide certainly knows no single defined reason, and much like the opioid epidemic, suicide knows no socio-economic background, race or religion.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2016, nearly 45,000 Americans ages 10 or older died by suicide. It is now one of the country’s top 10 causes of death.
In a report published last week by the CDC, United States suicide rates have increased by more than 30 percent in half of the states since 1999, and Pennsylvania was one of those states. The CDC reported that in Pennsylvania, the current suicide rate of 16.3 per 100,000 people reflects a 34 percent increase for the commonwealth from 1999 to 2016. That rate is higher than the national average of 15.4 per 100,000 people.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has reported that 22 veterans die on average each day by suicide, and the CDC says more than half of the 45,000 who died by suicide in their 2016 statistics had no known mental health condition.
Statistics aside, our hearts are with the families and friends of every person whose death by suicide has contributed to the CDC numbers. Now needs to be the time that our country takes a hard look at why it is happening to every one of the 45,000 each year and how we can help. Let’s not wait until another national headline grabs our attention — it’s imperative that we all work every day to help identify those at risk. Encourage lawmakers to make available additional funding to help those struggling to make ends meet, call on school officials to create safer and more supporting environments, make time in your daily life to help connect those around you with services that could save their lives.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or know someone at risk, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.