It is always sad to hear about a death of a loved one or a friend, but to hear of a death by suicide is extremely devastating and disheartening.
According to The National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death for all ages and the second leading cause of death for young adults ages 25 to 34, in the United States.
Despite education and awareness U.S. rates of depression and death by suicide have not decreased. As a psychotherapist who has been in practice, and treating mental disorders, this information is quite disturbing.
Why the highest rates of suicide are in the West is anyone’s guess. I lived in Ohio for 10 years and also maintained a private practice in the eastern part of the state. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a leading diagnosis in Ohio, because of the lack of sunshine and that is not the case in Colorado. Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota have the highest rates of suicide in the United states. New Jersey has the lowest. An estimated 6,400 young people aged 10-24 die by suicide each year in the United States. Suicide is on the rise.
For a therapist it is extremely devastating to learn of patient suicide. We react with shock, guilt and sorrow, not unlike a family member or close friend. The patient-therapist relationship is defined as a therapeutic role and is very special to both the therapist and patient. One thing that makes this relationship valuable and special is that the therapist is privy to confidential information that the family may not be aware of and this further binds the therapeutic relationship.
Many therapists feel symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder during the grieving cycle after a patient has committed suicide. They feel inadequate with fear of failure, which often results in guilt. Seeking the comfort and consultation of a colleague may be helpful in this time. A patient’s death by suicide may eventually lead to an improvement in professional judgment and an increase in sensitivity about patient issues surrounding depression and suicide, but the cost is high for all involved.
In treating individuals at risk there are no easy answers. Suicide prevention training equips community members, caregivers and clinicians with the vital skills to recognize warning signs and intervene effectively. Awareness, education and prevention are the answer. Families, friends, co-workers and therapists who lose a loved one to suicide will never the same, the collateral effects of suicide are long-lasting. Our family lost a loved one to suicide in 2016 at the age of 23. Many bittersweet memories following his death.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the offices of the state and federal attorneys general actively engage in suicide prevention and mental health intiatives.
We as individuals can help further this plan of action and change the stigma associated with mental health disorders and suicide. Self-education about mental illness and suicide is paramount in treatment. Organizations such as Touchstone Health, Alliance for Suicide Prevention offer suicide prevention educational programs. If you are living with or you know someone, who you feel may be at risk for depression or suicide, intervene by contacting 911 or call 988 The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
