After the suicides of celebrities Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade last year, we saw an increase of suicide warning sign and prevention messages on television, radio, and especially social media. During these times, whether it be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media outlet, we can't seem to scroll for more than a few seconds without seeing someone posting or sharing a message about suicide.
That's truthfully a good thing. Suicide is a tragic event that shatters countless lives and it needs our attention. At Bio-One Reno we see it first hand on a much too regular basis. But why must it take the suicide of a celebrity to raise these levels of awareness? The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) lists the following statistics on their website (https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/):
• Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States
• In 2017, over 47,000 Americans died by suicide
• If you're counting, that's 129 per day
• For every suicide, 29 others attempt suicide
These are shocking numbers and they should not be forgotten about until the next celebrity commits suicide, or the suicide of a loved one affects your family. For a list of ways you can help raise awareness, visit the AFSP website at www.afsp.org. Or if you or a loved one may be contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
