I was still a teenager the first time I lost a friend to suicide. I still think of him frequently. We had a lot of fun, then we never did again.
Suicide is a tough topic to write about, but I think it’s important that we do.
In the past, I’ve been criticized for reporting on suicide and I understand why. These are real people and it’s a deeply personal and traumatizing reality for those who knew and loved the victims.
It’s also an unfortunate and deadly problem we face as a society.
We can’t ignore it because sometimes a phone call, a text or a hug can save a life.
Last week a teen Clarkson University student was found dead following an extensive search that ended in tragedy. In recent years, at least two St. Lawrence County teens took their lives after they were apparently extorted by online predators.
The reasons why people take their own lives vary wildly, but it’s safe to say all of those we’ve lost could have benefited from having someone safe to talk to. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers that and it’s time it becomes as well known as 911.
Data from St. Lawrence County shows that from 2017 to 2021, at least 58 people took their own lives here.
At least seven of those deaths were among teenagers.
It’s not just a local problem. In 2020, the U.S. had one death by suicide every 11 minutes.
For people ages 10-34, suicide remains a leading cause of death.
According to the Centers for disease control suicide rates increased approximately 36% between 2000–2021. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher.
In 2021, an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.7 million attempted suicide.
Suicide is an indiscriminate killer. It affects people of all ages.
I have struggled with bouts of depression over the years. I think most of us have at some point, even if we didn’t realize it.
There are times in all of our lives when it feels like…
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