HOPE is being able to see that there is light, despite all the darkness." -Desmond Tutu
At the tender age of 18, I made my first of three suicide attempts." 
|
“Dear Mike,” I wrote, “I am done. I can’t do this anymore. Thank you for being my big brother. I love you.” I set the pencil down, swallowed the last of the pills and got in bed.
FACT: Suicide is on the rise. According to the CDC, suicide rates have increased 33% since 1999-2019. In 2019, 47,511 lives were lost to suicide, a staggering number that can no longer be ignored. Currently, Utah ranks eighth in the nation for highest suicides. FACT: Depression is the psychiatric diagnosis most commonly associated with suicide. One out of every 16 people who are diagnosed with depression, go on to end their lives through suicide. In an English class while pursuing my BSN, I had the opportunity to choose a social/local issue that has affected me personally. This was easy. Depression is my nemesis. I know its all-consuming darkness. I have carried its weight on my soul and for 35 years I have fought its rigorous battle. This website showcases the very real issues of suicide and depression that plagues us today. It uses the most recent data collected in a collaborative manner to provide statistical facts about suicide. It highlights the very definition of depression and delves into the substance of what depression is. Its root causes, and what symptoms it unloads onto its unassuming host. My main objective of this website was to use it as a platform to SPEAK UP. For too many years, mental health, suicide and even depression were taboo. Something people would not talk about. That stops TODAY. Through the graphics in this magazine, I speak volumes. Through songs, I speak to the heart and from my own personal story I speak of hope-so that others who are going through a rough bout of depression know they aren’t alone. I hope that my passion for mental health emanates throughout the website. The statistics are brutal. I hope that it will elicit my readers to really think about this cause and hopefully it can inspire them to join the fight. Prevention of suicide starts with you, by speaking up and ending the stigma of mental health. “From individuals and communities to employers and healthcare professionals, everyone can play a role in efforts to help save lives and reverse this troubling rise in suicide.” (cdc.org) My hope as you look through this is that you question for yourself why suicide is on the rise and get involved. |
|
“A semicolon is used when an author could've chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life," -Amy Bleuel
|
|
|
The prevalence of suicide has risen 30% in the US since 1999. According to the CDC, Utah alone, has increased by 46.5% ranking them 8th in the nation. What are we doing wrong? Are we speaking up enough? Are we reaching out enough? How do we combat this national public health crisis?
First and foremost, we must concern ourselves and get involved. This starts with a community effort. "Evidence shows that providing support services, talking about suicide, reducing access to means of self-harm, and following up with loved ones are just some of the actions we can all take to help others." (suicidepreventionlifeline.org) Secondly, we must educate ourselves on the causes and risk factors involved. The CDC recently did a study involving state-level trends of suicide due to the high increased numbers. While states varied, mental health conditions were significant contributors. What are these contributing factors? Finally, we must talk about it. By talking about suicide we are helping to change the stigma. “Stigma harms the 1 in 5 Americans affected by mental health conditions. It shames them into silence and prevents them from seeking help.” (nami.org) Showing love and understanding, can change the way the world views mental health. THIS MUST CHANGE in order to stop suicides. |
Showing love and understanding, can change the way the world views mental health. ” 
|
