September is National Suicide Prevention Month and with all the stressors that 2020 has brought, it's important to know that there is always someone there to talk to.
By almost every account, 2020 has been a tough year. With everything from a battered economy and widespread job loss, demonstrations for racial justice and police shootings, and the constant wildfires all along the west coast sending our area into a haze -- all this can leave many Nevadans feeling frustrated, isolated, and in some cases depressed.
According to the World Health Organization, close to 800,000 people die each year due to suicide, which is one person every 40 seconds.
The statistics for 2020 are not out yet, but the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention suggests that suicide is the tenth leading cause for death in the United States, and on average 132 Americans take their own lives each and every day. The percentage is even higher in youths, as suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages ten to 34. The most recent data from the CDC shows 657 Nevadans died from suicide in 2018 alone.
While these are truly grim figures, it's important to know that help is just a phone call away. If you need help in anyway, please call Crisis Support Services of Nevada at 1-800-273-8255.
If you feel uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text N-A-M-I to 741-741 to be connected to a free trained crisis counselor on the crisis text line.
The CDC also has a few warning signs of depression to look out for including—
- Problems eating or sleeping
- Mood swings
- Reckless behavior
- Alcohol or drug abuse
Health officials say suicide prevention starts with recognizing the warning signs, taking them seriously, listening, and that together we can save lives.
For more information or resources, you can head to cssnv.org
