MICHAEL FOWLER: Don’t ignore signs of suicidal thoughts

Suicide is defined as ending your life on purpose. Georgia’s suicide rate is 12.63 per 100,000 people, compared to the United States’ rate of 12.97. Dougherty County is No. 135 out of the 159 counties in Georgia with a suicide rate of 9.46. (www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/usa/georgia-suicide).

There are more than 30,000 Americans who commit suicide each year, however, hundreds of thousands more people attempt suicide but fail. Most people think that homicides are more prevalent than suicides, but it is more likely that a person will die from suicide than from homicide. For every two people killed by homicide, there are three people that die by suicide.

Most people are under the assumption that most suicides occur during the wintertime, Christmas or at the end of the year. However, most suicides occur during the spring and summer months. Suicide rates can vary by the age of a person, race, education, the kind of work they do and their family history. But more than likely depression, for whatever reason, and substance abuse are going to be the key issues.

Many elderly people who have lost spouses or have chronic illnesses and are depressed and feel there is nothing to live for commit suicide. Women have more suicidal thoughts and attempt suicide more often than men, but men actually complete the suicide act more often than women. Men have the higher suicide rate. There are many young people who tend to experiment with alcohol and drugs, have the stress of major life changes, and feel as though suicide is the only way out. Doctors and dentists have occupations that involve enormous amounts of stress and have higher suicide rates because they also have access to many lethal drugs that most people do not have access to.

Some other leading causes of suicide are divorce or the ending of a relationship, drug abuse, bullying (adults and children), financial or legal problems, depression that is untreated, and other life events, such as the death of a loved one or a terminal illness. Other reasons may be that someone is being/has been abused as a child or as an adult, experiencing a horrible disappointment, or just feeling like life will not get any better.

When someone is thinking about suicide, they may not ask for help. That does not mean that they do not want help; they really want to stop hurting. If you think a friend or family member is considering suicide, you might be afraid to bring up the subject, but show them that you care and are concerned about them.

Talk openly about the suicidal thoughts they are having, listen and stay with them, and get help for them. Talking openly with a pastor, someone with whom they can confide in, a physician, or a psychologist about their suicidal thoughts and feelings can save their life. Finally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached 24 hours a day at 1 (800) 273-8255.

Michael Fowler is the Dougherty County coroner. He can be contacted at (229) 438-3974 or email [email protected].