How can you recognize and prevent suicide?
With the recent spate of celebrity suicides — fashion designer Kate Spade and chef Anthony Bourdain — and the recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that suicide rates in the United States have risen sharply over the past 20 years (half of all states saw a more than 30 percent rise), it’s a good time to ask ourselves if there’s a better way to recognize symptoms and do something before it’s too late.
Dr. Oz had Dr. John Draper, psychologist and director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, on his show discussing the alarming fact that today one in six school-age children and teens indicate that they are seriously thinking about suicide; one in 13 will attempt it.
The highest rate of increase in children was among adolescent girls. Overall, it’s the second leading cause of death among kids (behind accidents), and it’s preventable.
Suicidal behavior is not always easy to diagnose and predict, but there are certain signs to look out for.