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 is a leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s an issue that affects people of all ages and demographics (although some people are more at risk than others, 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.
Provisional data released by the CDC in August finds that suicide deaths increased 2.6 percent between 2022 and 2021 (between 2000 and 2021, they increased 36 percent). Rates had dec