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INFORMATION - REALIZING THE PROBLEM
 
--  Worldwide, in one year, more human beings take their own lives than all victims of homicides and and all victims of war...COMBINED.
 
--  In the U.S. a suicide is attempted every 60 seconds.  A suicide is completed every 16 minutes.
 
--  In 2004, it is estimated there were 811,000 suicide attempts in the US.
 
--  Suicide kills over 30,000 Americans every year.
 
--  There are twice as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS.

--  The suicide rate is 11 in every 100,000 people.
 
--  The suicide rate in prison is 20 in 100,000 people
 
--  The suicide rate in a city jail is 100 in 100,000 people
 
--  The less densely populated the state, the HIGHER the suicide rate (lonliness and hopelessness are contributing factors in most suicides...even with modern mass communications).
 
--  It is estimated that 70% of people who commit suicide suffer from a depressive illness and abuse alcohol.
 
-- In 2004, the Violent Death Reporting System found that 73% of suicide victims also tested positive for at least one of the following substances; alcohol, cocaine, heroin or marijuana.
 
--  There are 4 male suicides for every 1 female suicide, but twice as many females as males attempt suicide.
 
-- People over 65 have the highest rates of suicide at 16 per 100,000 people.
 
--  The rate of suicide for men 65+ is 7 times greater than that of women in the same age group.
 
--  The fastest growing age group of suicide is children age 10-14 (the rate, although lower than other age groups has DOUBLED in the past 20 years).
 
--  100,000 adolescents die by suicide every year.
 
--  Suicide is the 5th leading cause of death for children ages 5-14 and the 3rd leading cause of death for young people ages 15-24.
 
--  Between 1952 and 1995, suicide in young adults has nearly tripled.
 
--  Epidemiologists say an immediate family member of someone who has committed suicide is 4 times more likely to do the same.
 
--  Many who have attempted suicide have never sought professional care.

methods of suicide

--  Although most gun owners reportedly keep a firearm in their home for "protection" or "self defense," 83% of gun-related deaths in these homes are the result of a suicide, often by someone other than the gun owner, accounting for 55% of all suicides (25% of suicides are by suffocation or strangulation and 20% of suicides are by poisoning or overdose).

--  Death by firearms is the fastest growing method of suicide.

-- Firearms are now the leading method of suicide in women as well as men.

--  Firearms are used in more suicides than homicides. 

bipolar disorder

--  Almost 2 million Americans currently suffer from bipolar disorder.  It is estimated that 1 in 5 persons diagnosed with bipolar disorder will die by suicide.

--  More untreated bipolar patients take their lives than the mortality rate of most types of heart disease and many types of cancer.

--  Approximately 20% of all patients with bipolar disorder have their first episode during adolescence but diagnosis is often delayed for years. Delayed recognition that low moods (depression) and highs (mania) can foster related problems, such as substance abuse (self medication) and suicidal behaviors.

--  Studies indicate that most bipolar patients who die by suicide communicate their suicidal state to others, most often through direct and specific statements of suicidal intent.

--  People suffering from bipolar disorder may die by suicide earlier in the course of this chronic illness than patients with other mental disorders.  Recent hospital discharge is a very high at risk time.

--  Maintaining treatment for bipolar illness is critical.  The suicide rate in the first year off lithium treatment is 20 times that during treatment.  Discontinuing other treatments may have similar suicide rates.

--  Early recognition and treatment of bipolar disorder may prevent years of needless suffering and death by suicide.  80 to 90% of people who have bipolar disorder can be treated effectively with medication and psychotherapy.

police & suicide
 
--  Police officers are nearly 4 times more likely to commit suicide than they are to die in the line of duty (which is most likely going to be a vehicle related death). 
 
--  In the U.S. from 2002 to 2005 over 1000 police officers committed suicide.
 
--  These numbers are alarming, considering the fact that they have not really increased over the years.  This has been and is a crisis situation the law enforcement field is reluctant to confront.