September is Suicide Awareness Month By: Haley Chisholm

September is Suicide Awareness Month

By: Haley Chisholm, RN, Senior Life Solutions, Program Director

As September is Suicide Awareness Month, we at Senior Life Solutions would like to share some information in getting the word out to the community. According to the American Association of Suicidology, suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States with one suicide occurring every 12.3 minutes. This is most prevalent between the ages of 15-24, but is a widespread problem for all age groups.

At Senior Life Solutions, we focus on the elderly, which make up 14.5% of the population and comprise 18% of all suicides. An estimated 4.8 million Americans are survivors of suicide of a friend, family member, or loved one. It is extremely important to know the warning signs of suicide in an attempt of prevention. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal ideation, confidential help is available free of cost by calling the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255. An easy-to-remember mnemonic for the warning signs of suicide: IS PATH WARM?

I- Ideation

S- Substance Abuse

P- Purposelessness

A- Anxiety

T- Trapped

H- Hopelessness

W- Withdrawal

A- Anger

R- Recklessness

M- Mood Changes

If you know someone that is suicidal, do not leave them alone. Call for help as soon as possible. If you are a senior over the age of 65 with depression, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, difficulty sleeping, coping with loss or feelings of hopelessness, please don’t hesitate to call us at Senior Life Solutions in Abilene, 785-263-6805, to see how we could potentially help.