Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Why? How? It shouldn’t be this way. . . but it is. From 2000 to 2021, suicide rates in the U.S. increased 36%.

In 2022, over 49,000 people aged 12 and older died by suicide, about 1 death every 11 minutes. Also in 2022, 13.2 million people seriously thought about suicide, 3.8 million planned to attempt suicide, and 1.6 million attempted suicide. In 2022, suicide was among the top 9 leading causes of death for people aged 10 – 64. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 – 14 and 25 – 34.

Also, suicide rates for active-duty military are currently at an all-time high and have increased over the past five years at an alarming rate. In 2021, research found that 30,177 active-duty personnel and veterans who served in the military after 9/11 have died by suicide. Compared to the 7,057 service members killed in combat in those same 20 years, military suicide rates are four times higher than deaths that occurred during military operations.

Why So Many Men?

It’s important to understand that 80% of people who commit suicide are male. This is most likely because men are encouraged to be tough, and any hint of not being okay is often perceived as a sign of weakness. This starts at a very young age when we tell boys that “boys don’t cry.” We condition boys not to express emotion, leading them to believe they’re weak if they do.

This way of thinking is why men are much less likely to seek support for mental health issues. Most men choose to “self-medicate” their stress or depression with alcohol or drugs, which only makes matters worse. Men are twice as likely as women to have an alcohol use disorder.

The other factors that weigh on men more than women are work and financial issues. With the traditional role of men as the primary breadwinner, financial issues or loss of a job have a bigger impact on men’s mental health. A study conducted in 2015 found that for every 1% increase in unemployment, there is 0.79% increase in the suicide rate.

Suicide Runs in Families

We are also learning that suicide risk runs in families. A study conducted in Denmark found that people with a family history of suicide were two and a half times more likely to take their own life. And a family history of psychiatric illness requiring hospitalization increased suicide risk by about 50%.

Evidence points to a genetic link to suicide. In 2021, the largest genetic study of suicide attempts ever conducted found DNA variations that increase the risk that a person will attempt suicide. The study also found a strong overlap in the genetic basis of suicide attempts and that of psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression, as well as some overlap with the genetics of smoking, pain, risk-taking, sleep disturbances and poor general health.

Suicidal Risk Factors

Suicidal thoughts are the result of feeling like you can’t cope when you’re faced with what seems like an overwhelming life situation. For some people, lack of hope in the future can mistakenly make suicide look like a solution. Also, people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence, have a much higher suicide risk. Suicide is complex and different for everyone who attempts it or has suicidal thoughts. It also typically involves a combination of risk factors.

Risk Factors for suicide include:

• Stressful life event, such as loss of a loved one, military service, a breakup, or financial or legal problems.
• Substance abuse: alcohol and drug use can worsen suicidal thoughts, making someone feel reckless enough to act on impulse.
• Psychiatric disorders, such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or bipolar disorder.
• Family history of mental disorders, substance abuse, suicide, or violence including physical or sexual abuse.
• Medical condition that can be linked to depression and suicidal thinking, such as chronic disease, chronic pain, or terminal illness.

Antidepressants and Increased Suicide Risk

The FDA requires all drugs to carry black box warnings which alert the public and health care providers to serious side effects, such as injury or death. In some cases, children, teenagers and young adults under 25 may have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior from some antidepressant drugs. The evidence on whether antidepressants cause suicide in young adults and children is mixed. Let’s face it, it’s difficult to prove causation for something so complex. I can say that I would personally choose to stay away from anything that has any hint of a suicidal association.

Suicide Prevention

Let’s talk about some simple and conventional things that we can do to prevent suicide attempts by ourselves or people we care about.

1. Stay connected to people. Everyone should have at least three close friends they communicate with on a regular basis. Create a small circle of friends you can share things with. If one of your friends isn’t acting quite right, ask them how they are doing. Check in to see if they need to talk. Loneliness is associated with suicide in men, who always have fewer close friends than women.
2. Get plenty of physical activity. A study published in May 2023, found that running 30 minutes two times a week for 16 weeks resulted in a 49% remission rate for depression. Participants who took antidepressants for 16 weeks experienced a 43% remission rate for depression. Running two times a week resolves depression better than antidepressants.
3. Strength Train. A study published in 2019 found strength training just as effective as aerobic training for treating depression. The study also stated that combining both strength and aerobic training yields even better results.
4. Take Magnesium. Studies have shown that supplementing with 125 – 300 mg of magnesium with each meal and at bedtime produces recovery from major depression in less than seven days.
5. Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables. Consuming adequate amounts (4 – 6 servings) of fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of depression by 14 – 25%.
6. Get help. If you’re feeling down or depressed, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Any good church will offer great resources for dealing with depression. Talk to your doctor. And don’t be afraid to dial 988, the suicide prevention hotline.

Stay Strong,

Bo Railey