9-8-8

Loneliness and other worries the holidays bring, widespread racism, health issues including COVID-19, and a number of other factors have brought a lot of people to the end. We have seen it in the news far too many times, often involving beloved performers.  The dark thoughts around ending one's life don't get enough attention until it is too late. We should talk about it though. Lives can be saved. The national hotline in the US is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 988. If you have suicidal thoughts or know someone who does, use this number.

Of course, a telephone number doesn't solve everything. I am not just talking about those in crisis. We ALL need to have a better understanding of suicide and we ALL need to value every human life. We need to care more. 

Years ago in Nashville, I volunteered at a suicide prevention hotline, and each day we saw results. Each day we helped people in crisis. A wonderful nurse I know where I live now, has been a leader here in suicide awareness.  I'm not a doctor, but I can tell you of many cases where intervention has saved lives and I urge you to learn a few basic things. The first thing is you are not alone!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the highest suicide rate is among adults between 45 and 64 years of age, and the second highest rate is persons 85 years or older. That may be surprising, because we so often hear about youth suicides, but elders take their own lives far more often.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. They are committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.  As they help save lives, let us help them by spreading the word.  The number to call is 988.

All lives are precious, and nobody should feel that things are hopeless or that they are all alone. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. I urge everyone to become better informed too. We should all understand why people take their lives and how this can be avoided. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is an excellent place to begin. Check out their website at https://afsp.org/