According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates have increased in almost every state over a nearly 20-year period ending in 2016, with almost 45,000 lives lost to the tragedy that year.
The deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain last week have led to a sharp increase in calls to suicide prevention hotlines.
Publicity around the suicides of famous people has been linked to increases in suicide,
The thought of more people needing to call is upsetting, but at least indicates people are reaching out for help. The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800.273.8255. You also can find more information about suicide from Four Rivers Behavioral Health’s Regional Prevention Center.
The National Suicide Prevention Hotline, the largest in the country, last week reported a 25 percent increase in call volume compared to the same time period a week prior to the deaths of Spade and Bourdain.
Because the Lifeline phone number is being shared more widely as a resource by the media and on social media platforms, it has resulted in more people being aware of the resource and calling to get help.
In Kentucky, suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 15 -34 and more than twice as many people in the Commonwealth die by suicide annual than by homicide.
Help and support is just a click or phone call away either by calling FRBH’s Crisis Line at 270.592.3980 or visiting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.
