Forty-nine thousand.
In the United States, over forty-nine thousand lives were lost to suicide in 2022. That is approximately one person every 11 minutes. Last year, suicide rates went up by 2.6% and are continuing to rise each year.
Why is this happening? Alongside the rise in suicide, researchers have also seen a surge in mental health disorders. When there’s such a vast amount of diverse people, it can be difficult to pinpoint just one cause. Every person’s reasons are different, so there is a multitude of stressors that are leading to record-breaking numbers every year.
For teens, school is one of the most significant indicators as to why rates are increasing. Statistics show that when schools shut down due to COVID-19 in 2020, suicide rates dropped. They rose again in the following years as school returned in full swing. With social media becoming more prevalent in students’ lives, it has become much easier for kids to hide behind a screen and take bullying off campus.
As teens get older and gain more responsibilities as young adults, more stressors are added. When teens carry on into college, not only are they dealing with the stress of school and bullying, but they are also dealing with working, paying bills, and learning how to live in the real world. In today’s age, it is more difficult to have the means to live comfortably while paying off student loans. The more stressors that build up throughout your “golden years,” the higher the risk of mental health disorders and suicide.
Altogether, the increasing rates in people of all ages can be caused by exposure to all of the negative events in the world. With social media constantly bringing light to anything cynical, it’s rare that the public ever sees the positive things happening around them. If people aren’t seeing the light in the world that can overpower the darkness, rates will continue to surge.
September, being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, is meant to expose what you can be more aware of when speaking to others and while scrolling through your social media feed. It is meant to show you that you are not alone in this battle.
If you or someone you know is currently struggling, please refer to the following resources;
Safe2Say: 1-844-SAFE2SAY
Suicide Hotline: 988
Mental Health Hotline: 211
Kooth: us.kooth.com
