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Each year, more than 49,000 lives are lost to suicide across the United States, representing one death every 11 minutes, leaving behind loved ones, families, and communities. Suicide Prevention Month provides an opportunity for all Boston residents to increase awareness about suicide, learn the warning signs, and encourage those in need to seek help.

Suicide rates increased by 5.2% between 2020 and 2022, and despite a previous decline in 2019 and 2020, suicide remains a significant public health issue that affects individuals of all demographics.

79% of all people who die by suicide are male, though women are more likely to attempt suicide. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their straight peers, and transgender adults are nearly nine times more likely to attempt suicide at some point in their lives compared to the general population. Suicide is the leading cause of death for individuals held in local jails, underscoring the importance of addressing mental health needs and providing support for incarcerated individuals.

The emotional, physical, and economic impacts of suicide, and suicide attempts, extend far beyond the individual, affecting families, friends, and communities, and leading to long-term mental health challenges for survivors and loved ones.

Stigma around mental illness and suicide prevents many individuals from seeking help, making it essential to promote open dialogue and support for those struggling with mental health challenges, and requires creating a multigenerational and multicultural system of empathy, connection, and understanding to reduce the incidence of suicide.

During this week's Council meeting, the Council recognized September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Month.

SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, accessible by dialing 988 nationwide, provides 24/7, confidential support for individuals in distress, as well as resources for loved ones and professionals, available 365 days a year through phone and online at 988lifeline.org.

Samaritans, a local support service dedicated to helping those struggling with suicidal thoughts, provides a 24-hour helpline at 1-877-870-4673, offering compassionate listening and support for individuals in crisis.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Massachusetts offers vital resources during Suicide Prevention Month, including educational materials, advocacy, and outreach efforts to promote mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide.

"Talk Away the Dark" initiative fosters a growing support network aimed at bringing visibility to those struggling with suicidal ideation (SI) by offering resources, community engagement, and support to reduce the silence and isolation surrounding mental health struggles.

DeeDee's Cry, named after Founder and Executive Director Toy Burton's sister, Denita Shayne Morris (DeeDee), who died by suicide at the the age of twenty-three, aims to create resources and conversations that lift the stigma of suicide and mental health within Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

• Last updated: September 16, 2024