Mundie Moms

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Thoughtful Thursday-Suicide Prevention


Did you know that over 34,000 people die by suicide every year in the USA? Suicide is the 4th leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 18-65. Currently, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the USA, which means about every 15 mins someone dies from suicide. It's estimated that a person tries to commit suicide ONCE every minute! (taken from here http://tinyurl.com/23kosg5).

We know that this is a very sensitive, yet very serious subject. I've personally been effected by this when a friend of mine committed suicide in high school. A wonderful Mundie Moms follower, who has felt the tragedy from losing a child to suicide, left us a comment directing us to this amazing site http://www.afsp.org/ , who's goal it is to prevent suicide.

American Foundation of Suicide Prevention reaches out to families grieving from the loss of a loved one and friend. They also take the important and very critical step in educating our schools about suicide. Prevention starts with education. Through the services AFSP provides, they work hard to help survivors cope with their loss through communication with other survivors.

Here's a little about AFSP-

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.

To fully achieve its mission, AFSP engages in the following Five Core Strategies:

  • Funds scientific research
  • Offers educational programs for professionals
  • Educates the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention
  • Promotes policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention
  • Provides programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk, and involves them in the work of the Foundation (taking from their site)
AFSP
's site offers a wide range in services. If you'd like to learn more about the facts, figures, risk factors, want to know the warning signs, what you can do or have more questions, please visit them here

Here's a list of ways you can do more to support and get more involved with AFSP http://tinyurl.com/6dth9n

AFSP, is one of many organization world wide who's goal it is to prevent this tragedy from happening. Be sure to seek out organizations in your country if you have questions, if you need help, want to learn more or would like to help.

5 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for posting on this topic, Mundie Moms. Like many writers I've struggled with depression since my teens and depression/suicide are subjects not addressed enough by society. Thank you for Thoughtful Thursday!!

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  2. Hi Andrea! You are so welcome. I should have written something about depression in my post. We'll post more about this in the feature. I agree with you, depression and suicide aren't talked about enough. There needs to be a lot more discussion about them and how serious they can be and are.
    Thank you for comment!!

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  3. KatieB (Mundie Moms) - Such an important service that AFSP provides. I know there are international organizations out there that address this same need. The bottom line is to call...if you need them. They're out there for you.

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  4. Thoughtful Thursday is just one of the reasons I love you ladies. (((hugs)))

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  5. Aw, thank you Myra! You know how much we love you!

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