FROM MY WINDOW..

There are few mental health topics that are as heavy as suicide. Understandably, the intentional taking of one’s life can be hard for people to talk about, and as a result, there are several prevailing myths about suicide that often make it more difficult for people to seek care and support if they find themself contemplating this type of self-harm.

Whether you are aware or not, it’s very possible that someone you know or love has had suicidal thoughts in the past, or even attempted or died by suicide. Suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has became a leading cause of Death in America. (CDC).

It’s an issue that affects people of all ages and demographics, including people of color, veterans, LGBTQ+ youth, people with disabilities, tribal populations, and people who live in rural areas), and unfortunately, suicide rates are increasing.

These numbers are likely underreported because it’s difficult to standardize suicide data; the agencies that track this information have varying levels of reporting capabilities. Though it’s tough to get exact numbers related to suicide, the numbers available are helpful in painting a picture of who is at risk. “The caveat is that there’s a lot we don’t know, but there are a lot of things we do know and are starting to understand more.

Despite the scope of the problem, people thin talking about suicide is taboo.

This has to stop and bring this subject out of the dark and into the spotlight to better understand this.