BERNEY WILKINSON: Sense of belonging can lessen risk of suicide
Suicide continues to be one of the leading causes of death in Americans ages 10 to 64. In fact, it is the second leading cause of death in Americans between the ages of 10 and 14 years, as well as those between the ages of 25 and 34 years. As a result, statistics suggest that in 2020 a person in America died from suicide every 11 minutes.
One of the leading risk factors for suicide is social isolation and discrimination. As a result, the rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are far greater in minority groups that include sexual orientation and gender identity. Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, for example, are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. It is important to point out, though, that it is not one’s race, sexual orientation, or gender identity that increases their risk, per se. Rather, it is the physical, emotional, and mental abuse that is experienced from others that increases their risk.
Other contributing factors for one’s risk of suicide include mental illness and substance abuse. While there are many ways in which mental illness and substance abuse can affect a person, one of the most concerning is the risk of cognitive distortions. That is, when a person is suffering from a mental health problem, or if they are under the influence of substances, their thoughts are not always clear and realistic. They may start to think that their problems are greater or more permanent than they really are. As a result, they tend to feel hopeless and to feel that no one can help them.
Despite these risk factors, there are also many protective factors that can help to reduce the risk of someone attempting suicide. One of the best ways to reduce one’s risk is to offer them a sense of belonging. As social creatures, humans want to feel as though they have a group with whom they can belong. For most of us, family is the first group, followed later by a social group of friends. However, when individuals feel that they don’t belong, their risk for self-harm increases significantly. Moreover, simply allowing others to be who they are offers a great deal of support, protection and a sense of belonging.
At a system level, another effective way to provide protection is to increase access to mental health care. Many people who suffer from mental health issues never seek treatment. While schools offer a great deal of mental health support, many kids are either concerned about the social stigma of seeking mental health treatment, or they feel as though a mental health professional would not be able to help them. Similarly, in the community, many people avoid seeking mental health treatment, or they simply do not have access to it. However, as a community, it is critical that we recognize that at any given time, at least 20% of us (that’s 1 in 5) are struggling with some mental health issue. It is not rare and it should make anyone feel ashamed.
Although suicide continues to be a major problem, there is hope and there is help. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, schedule an appointment with your doctor, schedule a visit with a mental health professional, or access an online counseling service. That said, if the risk of suicide is significant and you are concerned about the risk for self-harm, call the Suicide and Crisis Hotline, which is now easier to remember; just dial 988 and someone will be on the line to offer support and assistance.
Dr. Berney, a licensed psychologist with Psychological Associates of Central Florida in Lakeland, is a national speaker and the co-author of "Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child." Listen to Dr. Berney's podcast, "The Mental Breakdown,” on iTunes and YouTube. You can submit questions or topics to Dr. Berney by email at drberney@pacflorida.com.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Social isolation one of leading risk factors
