Robin Williams' Death Sheds Light on National Problem of Suicide

Less than six months ago, legendary comedian, actor, and philanthropist Robin Williams committed suicide.  Williams’ death cast a light on social issues that are often times kept in the dark.  Williams had struggled with depression and substance abuse in the past.  For Robin Williams to take his own life shows that even people with significant resources can face challenging times in their lives and struggle with depression.  Williams’ death was tragic news for millions of his fans.  Perhaps his death can lead other people who are having difficulty with substance abuse, depression, or other mental health concerns to seek treatment.

Suicide is a national health problem.  Suicide can occur in any age or demographic group.  According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention a person dies by suicide every 16 minutes in the United States.  This represents approximately 32,000 deaths per year.  Additionally, the Foundation also estimates that a suicide attempt is made every minute in the United States, with close to 1 million people attempting suicide annually.  Suicide is the 4^th leading cause of death for American adults between the ages of 18 to 65 and the 3^rd leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention talking about suicide makes most people feel uncomfortable.  Often times, people who commit suicide are blamed for their actions and their family and friends become stigmatized.  In the U.S., the most common methods of suicide include: firearms, suffocation, and poisoning.  Research indicates that risk factors for suicide include: previous suicide attempts, family history of suicide, depression or other mental illnesses, history of alcohol or drug abuse, traumatic event or loss, access to lethal methods, and incarceration.

Suicide is a national health problem that should not be overlooked.  It is imperative for our country to have a constructive dialogue regarding suicide.  Research from the CDC also indicates that: there were 38,364 suicides in 2010 in the United States, an average of 105 each day.  In 2010, suicide was the 10^th leading cause of death for all ages in the United States.