Suicide

I am a Black, queer, psychiatrist, and I live with a history of suicidal ideation and two suicide attempts. When I first experienced suicidality at age 13, I was sure I was going to die. At the time, the discrimination I was facing felt like a reality I would never…

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and is an important chance for each of us to understand how suicidal thoughts can be identified, prevented, and treated.  The resounding theme of National Suicide Prevention Month is to provide support and compassion to those struggling with mental health conditions or life circumstances…

Suicide isn’t an easy topic to think about, let alone discuss—especially with an individual you suspect is suicidal. A lot of emotions can be involved, and you certainly don’t want to make this person feel worse. That said, it is incredibly important that we do discuss the matter and get…

While people experiencing active suicidal ideation usually have the intent, plan, or means to harm themselves, people experiencing passive suicidal ideation usually have thoughts of suicide but without the intent to follow through.  While passive suicidal thoughts may sound less severe than active ones, they are undoubtedly upsetting. It’s also…

You always want to be able to comfort those close to you, but when they talk about deep and bitter truths like struggling with suicidal thoughts, it can be hard to know what to say—it’s scary to hear, and oftentimes, there isn’t much you personally can do about it. What’s…

Many people across the world struggle with suicidal thoughts and feelings every day. However, when those suicidal thoughts result in an intent act, they cross over into suicidality. Suicidality can feel very isolating and makes it seem as though life is only pain and darkness. These feelings are not easy…

Suicide is a critical public health problem. According to the most current data from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which dates to 2020, it is the 12th leading cause of death for Americans. Additionally: Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for individuals ages 10-14 and 25-34…

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States — in 2020, there were 45,979 deaths, or one death every 11 minutes, by suicide. If these numbers tell us anything, it’s that learning to recognize suicidal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors is absolutely critical. Educating yourself on these signs…

The loss of a loved one to suicide can hurt on a deeper level, often because of all the questions left unanswered. This type of loss can leave one feeling overwhelmed with guilt, wondering what they could have done differently and questioning everything they know to be true. While this…

The loss of someone to suicide can leave loved ones, as well as an entire community, grappling with difficult feelings and wondering what to do now. More specifically, those who knew an individual who lost their life to suicide often struggle with feelings of guilt, sadness, anger, and sometimes, shame…

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 1 million adults report attempting suicide every single year. And according to the World Health Organization, 800,000 die due to suicide every single year. As you can see, an abundance of people around the world are suffering enough…

Two life coaches in NYC who hosted a radio show “The Pursuit of Happiness” committed suicide in their Brooklyn apartment. Our thoughts go out to John and Lynne. If you or anyone you know is struggling with this issue, please seek help. To remember their memory, here is a clip…