9-15-09

Suicide Prevention

Suicide is a major public health problem in the U.S. which can be prevented.

There are about 30,000 suicides in the U.S. each year and about 600,000 attempted suicides are treated in hospital emergency departments.  Even when the suicide attempt does not result in death, the individual and family suffer great pain and anguish, says Dr. Jeffrey Bennett, assistant professor of psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.  He explains some situations which can cause some individuals to attempt suicide.

SOUND BITE: “. . . about 90 percent of people who commit suicide have some kind of psychiatric disorder.  And these often include a major depressive disorder that’s recurrent.  And the probably one of the most important risk factors for committing suicide for people that do have a psychiatric disorder or otherwise is the use of alcohol.”

Dr. Bennett says it is very important for individuals who are suffering from mental disorders to get treatment.  He says there is no specific formula for knowing if someone plans to attempt suicide, but he describes people who might be at risk.

SOUND BITE: “. . . People who have started to become more withdrawn from their usual group of friends and family.  People who seem to have more difficulties mobilizing themselves for the usual activities.  Extended periods of work inattendence.  And then risk factors like job loss, divorce, separation from a close, intimate friend or acquaintance, or loss of someone close are all potential risk factors.”

Dr. Bennett advises family members or close friends to make sure an individual who might be thinking about suicide gets help from their primary care physician or a mental health counselor.   Or call 1-800-SUICIDE, a national helpline that is staffed 24 hours a day.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.