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Articles of Inspiration: A New Movement for Suicide Prevention.

(“Hour Glass.”) ​Getty Images. October 17 2019

​(“U.S. Map.”) ​Getty Images. October 17 2019

Human beings are born, and then we die, but what happens in between is not inconsequential. The beautiful consequence of being
born makes us made to make an impact on one another, and to leave a legacy beyond our impermanence. Although our days are
naturally numbered, each year several of us die do to unnatural causes, and we sadly lose individuals with bright potential. We lose
individuals in all walks of life: from the old man who lives just down the street, and kindly minds his own business, to the bright-eyed
youth willing to give their fellow student a ride to school. In 2017, more than 23,000 people died from homicidal injuries, but more
than twice as many people took their own life. (Lyons 3)

Kaiser Family Foundation. "U.S. States with The Highest Suicide Rates as of 2017 (per 100,000
Population)." ​Statista​, Statista Inc., 8 Jul 2019,
https://www-statista-com.libprox1.slcc.edu/statistics/560297/highest-suicide-rates-in-us-states/

​ (​“U.S. Flag.​”) Getty Images. October 17 2019

Within the same year, 1.4 million survived suicidal attempts. These death rates are on the rise (Lyons 3) The above graphics highlight
a few places in the United States where the growing suicide rates reached alarming numbers. According to scholar Christina Lyons
there are several factors leading into the growing rates of suicidal deaths in America, and many of them come as unexpected causes.
(6)
SAMHSA. "Number of Adults Hospitalized after a Suicide Attempt in The United States in 2015 and 2018, by Age Group*." ​Statista​, Statista Inc., 6
Aug 2019, https://www-statista-com.libprox1.slcc.edu/statistics/476387/hospitalized-adults-after-attempting-suicide-by-age-us/

One might assume that the primary factor in suicidal death has to do with depression, or other psychological ailments, but this is not
necessarily the case. According to studies by the National Institute of Mental Health, and Everytown for Gun Safety, several other key
factors play a role, but the central cuase of suicide is social iscolation and, predictably, easy access to firearms. Accordingly, proposed
solutions to the issue of rising suicide rates must continue to focus on tackling both gun control and factors contributing to iscolation.
(Lyons 6) In terms of gun control, there has been evidence which suggests a fluctuation in terms of suicidal methods, by gender. The
graphs below highlight this discrepancy.

CDC. "Number of Firearm Suicide Deaths in The United States in 2017, by Gender." ​Statista​, Statista Inc., 24 Jun 2019,
https://www-statista-com.libprox1.slcc.edu/statistics/258916/number-of-firearm-suicide-deaths-in-the-united-states-by-gender/

CDC. "Number of Firearm Suicide Deaths in The United States from 1990 to 2017." ​Statista​, Statista Inc., 28 Feb 2019,
https://www-statista-com.libprox1.slcc.edu/statistics/258914/number-of-firearm-suicide-deaths-in-the-united-states/

Since disagreements on the overall effect of gun culture on suicide rates has been callled into question, and been the cause of
continous debate, it will not be the focus of this article. Instead, we will turn towards effecting change through tackling the social and
mental health related factors. According to Lyons affecting those factors will be complicated. “ Experts agree that early detection of
dangerous psychological distress is key to reducing suicides, but how to do that is difficult.” One proposed proactive solution to this,
is the incorporation of Hope Squads across schools nationwide.
Image Credits
(“High School Students.”) ​Dreamstime.com. October 17 2019
​ (“High School Students.” Getty Images. October 17 2019

According to researcher Jennifer Wright-Berryman the incorporation of these squads would help create a “suicide prevention model,
enhance peer connections, offer students assistance in seeking help, partner with mental health and social services providers, and
create an open and inclusive school climate…” (125) Hope Squads function on the principle that individuals can affect change,
sometimes more fluidly than suicide agencies. A large number of individuals will confide in peers about suicidal thoughts, with
ineffectual results. (Wright-Berryman, et al 125) Hope Squads educate peers in order to be more reliable confidants, who understand
the issue, and work actively with mental health agencies to help peers.

Introducing hope-filled, peer-driven organizations like the Hope Squad into schools is a tenable first step towards turning the tide of
rising suicide rates. These organizations would give youths an opportunity to affect change in their community, by inspiring strength
and awareness on a case by case basis, and by making the world a better place one student at a time.

Work Cited
(“High School Students.” Getty Images. October 17 2019

(“High School Students.”) ​Dreamstime.com. October 17 2019

(“Hour Glass.”) ​Getty Images. October 17 2019

Kaiser Family Foundation. "U.S. States with The Highest Suicide Rates as of 2017 (per 100,000 Population)." ​Statista,​
Statista Inc., 8 Jul 2019, ​https://www-statista-com.libprox1.slcc.edu/statistics/560297/highest-suicide-rates-in-us-states/

Karaim, Reed. Assissted Suicide. “should doctors be allowed to help terminally ill patients die?” CQ Press, vol 23, no. 19, May.
2013, pp 449-472.
library.cqpress.com.libprox1.slcc.edu:2048/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2013051700&type=hitlist&num=0

Lyons, Christina L. "Suicide Crisis." ​CQ Researcher,​ 12 July 2019, pp. 1-60, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2019071200.

(​“U.S. Flag.​”) Getty Images. October 17 2019

(“​U.S. Map.​”) Getty Images. October 17 2019

Wright-Berryman, Jennifer, et al. “Hope Squads: Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention in Schools.” ​Children & Schools​, vol. 40, no. 2, Apr.
2018, pp. 125–126. ​EBSCOhost,​ doi:10.1093/cs/cdy005.

SAMHSA. "Number of Adults Hospitalized after a Suicide Attempt in The United States in 2015 and 2018, by Age Group*."
Statista,​ Statista Inc., 6 Aug 2019,
https://www-statista-com.libprox1.slcc.edu/statistics/476387/hospitalized-adults-after-attempting-suicide-by-age-us/

CDC. "Number of Firearm Suicide Deaths in The United States in 2017, by Gender." ​Statista,​ Statista Inc., 24 Jun 2019,
https://www-statista-com.libprox1.slcc.edu/statistics/258916/number-of-firearm-suicide-deaths-in-the-united-states-by-gend
er/