2016 has been a rough year for losses, both in my personal life, for a few of my close friends, and in the public sphere for some great artists and entertainers. One of the toughest things to deal with after losing a loved one can be wondering after the fact if something could have been done to save them – if only someone would have said something in a different way, urged the person to see a different specialist, or even just spent some more time listening.
In the cases of old age, long-term battles with cancer, and auto accidents, there isn’t usually an answer, but sometimes in the cases of of suicides, intervention is possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week released a troubling report on U.S. suicides that showed significant rises, both overall and in various categories. In fact, suicides across the board were up 24 percent in 2014 from 1999.
If you or someone you know need help, there’s a 24-hour hotline available by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).