Episode #222 Talk About Suicide

Five Problems

• Over 49,000 people in the U.S. died by suicide in 2023, and this number is rising.
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among Americans ages 10 to 34.
• Eighty percent of the people who die by suicide in the U.S. are men.
• Behind every life lost to suicide is another 260 people who have seriously considered it.
• The pain of losing a loved one to suicide is often deepened and prolonged by shame.

Five Principles

• The most courageous conversations in life are often the most uncomfortable.
• Mental health is an essential component of physical health.
• People who are struggling don’t need to be fixed as much as they need to have a friend.
• Conversations about difficult topics do not invite darkness but rather illuminate it.
• Secrets lose their power when they are brought into the light.

Five Practices

• Check in on friends and family members when you notice an increase in isolation.
• Replace your “How’s it going?” with the more intentional “How are you doing, really?”
• If you find yourself considering suicide, promptly share this with a trusted person.
• Don’t be afraid to ask, “Have you had any thoughts about ending your life?”
• Utilize and circulate the number 988, which is the national suicide and crisis hotline.