The week of September 7-13 is National Suicide Prevention Week.
It was hard just to write that. As a topic of family conversation, suicide is not one that people typically want to talk about. We see it on the news, we may know someone among our coworkers, friends or relatives that have taken their life, and our hearts have gone out to them and their loved ones; yet, for many of us the idea of broaching the subject with our own children is still far too scary. Perhaps we fear that we will put ideas in their heads or that an ignorance of suicide will keep it further from us, but that is only wishful thinking. Suicide is all too real.
As parents the concept of suicide is about as terrifying as it gets. We were all young once, full of angst and the constant spiral of emotion, the pubescent path that amplifies every moment into the only moment and all that goes with it. While we may or may not have considered suicide as an option we had friends that did—they would mention it in passing or small groups or whenever someone would listen, and sometimes listening was all they needed. Sometimes it was much more than that.
Now we have children and we see their struggles and the daily process of expanding wonder that engulfs them. We look for signs and worry. Unfortunately, the signs are not always there, and the steps taken in quick, quiet moments turn too easily to the stuff of nightmares. It is part of the worrisome what-ifs that keep parents awake at night, feeling helpless and clinging to whatever it is they count as blessings.
This video, Cayman’s Story, features Farid Naib, a father whose 13-year-old son, Cayman, took his own life. It is heartbreaking, and Mr. Naib’s strength is an inspiration:
“Cayman was a really, really happy kid. He wasn’t being bullied at school. He had no real girl problems. He had a happy family. There were absolutely no warning signs. He got an email about a homework assignment and probably 20 to 30 minutes later, my 13-year-old son took his life with a gun I hadn’t thought about in years.”
-Farid Naib, Cayman’s father
The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence has issued a new report “The Truth About Suicide and Guns” that provides 28 pages of statistics and information proving there is something we can do, lots of somethings, and that we aren’t as helpless as we sometimes feel.
Now, to be clear, there are countless reasons that a person of any age might turn to suicide, and there are way too many means available for them to make it happen. The Brady Campaign is specifically focused on firearms, and for good reason. Here are some of the findings from the report:
- Suicide deaths are up 41% since 1999
- 82% of teen firearm suicides involve a family member’s gun
- 2/3 of gun deaths are by suicide
- On average, guns account for 19,992 suicides every year
- 71% of people who attempt suicide do so within an hour after making the decision
- 65% of men 45 or older who die by suicide use a firearm
- The states with the five highest rates of gun suicides have gun ownership rates 37% or more higher than the national average
The numbers don’t lie. As a nation we can curb the rise of suicides through easy steps and difficult conversations. It can be done and it is up to us to do it. Please do your part to help prevent suicide.
If you or someone you know may be contemplating suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 (800) 273-8255.
