The apparent suicide of fashion icon Kate Spade is raising awareness about prevention.
About 39,500 people died of suicide in 2011. That's more deaths than from murder, prostate cancer or car accidents, according to the American Association of Suicidology.
Some of the most frequently cited risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, depression, a prior suicide attempt, family history and exposure to other people's suicidal behavior, according to the National Institutes of Health.
In North Carolina, suicide is the leading cause death for people between the ages of 15 and 34. It's the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 14, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
"Whenever the thoughts of suicide would come into my head I would try to occupy myself and get my mind on something else," said 21-year-old college student Frankie Grove.
Grove said he suffered depression in his pre-teen and teen years and cites bullying, domestic and academic challenges as well as peer-pressure as some of the things he battled with.
But Groves said emerged victorious by talking to family and friends about his challenges and he learned to refocus his mind's energy towards his life's goals.
"It's really environmental. The human spirit always yearns for more and it sometimes ends up in confusion. But it really hs to come from within and it is hard to find it but once you do, that kind of discipline is the best to focus on," concluded Groves who hoped speaking about his challenges would help other young people come out of the shadows and seek help.
Some people have sought help from their faith-based community.
"It isolates you and then when you are isolated all of your emotions can take over," said Rachel Rozema who counsels many teens in her church who've faced depression or contemplated suicide.
"You can't hide from hurt and pain because we live in a reality that is filled with lots of bad things. You can find joy because you have beauty, you've friends and family that can support you."
"Mental illness is a chronic condition like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer and you would never tell someone with diabetes to suck it up and get on with it," said Donna Shelton, the executive director of Mental Health Association of Greensboro. It is a resource center located at 700 Walter Reed Drive in Greensboro.
"There are professional services out there and community-based services that are just as important that they can reach out to."
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The lifeline is free, confidential and an expert is always available to help a loved one, a friend or yourself.
So how do you know when a loved one needs help?
Warning signs
According to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, some of the warning signs of suicide are:
• Talking about wanting to die. About 50%-75% of people who attempt suicide tell someone about it first.
• Finding ways to kill themselves, like hoarding medicine or buying a gun.
• Insomnia
• Losing interest in things and becoming withdrawn from family and friends.
What to do
If you know someone who is thinking about suicide, you should not leave them by themselves. Also, remove anything that might be harmful to the person, such as guns, according to NIH.
"Try to get your loved one to seek immediate help from his or her doctor or the nearest hospital emergency room, or call 911," NIH says on its website.
You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Resources
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