Suicide, the country’s 10th leading cause of death, has become a serious public health problem that takes an immense toll on family, friends and loved ones who have been effected. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 41,149 Americans took their own lives in 2013, and an estimated one million suicide attempts occur each year. A majority of suicides occur when a person is experiencing a mental health disorder that could have been treated if realized sooner. Thus in order to prevent suicide numbers from increasing, September 6-12, 2015 is deemed National Suicide Prevention Week.
At The Florida Network of Youth and Family Services, our 31 member agencies aim to better understand mental health disorders in order to prevent youth from taking their own lives. We constantly work to prevent youths from feeling unwanted, isolating themselves and fearing that they are a burden to others. It is crucial to become informed about mental health issues and spread awareness of suicide not only this week but throughout the year.
When someone is considering taking their own life, they tend to exhibit specific verbal and behavioral warning signs. The greater amount of warning signs exhibited the greater risk the person is to committing suicide. The Florida Network is dedicated to helping Florida’s youth and creating safe pathways by building strong families and communities. If you or a loved one exhibits behavioral or verbal warning signs please contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-237-TALK (8255) to get help before it’s too late.