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The Suicide Clubs Numbers May Be Frightening, If Questionable and If They Exist
The mental health crisis among our young people is more than troubling because suicide is on the rise.
Hopelessness, one of the hallmarks of severe depression, may be what is pushing the suicide statistics up, even though there is a concerted campaign to counter it. Hotlines, special groups, and websites are all aimed at helping those who see suicide as the answer to their pain, but how effective are they? According to the CDC, suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, and the statistics, sadly, show it.
“Americans with phone access, whether cellular or landline, could dial or text the three-digit code to receive suicide prevention and mental crisis support. The service, which is free, anonymous and available 24/7, was introduced as an update to the 1–800–273–8255 number, which can be harder to remember.” I’m glad someone realized that the number was an impossibility when someone was in crisis. What were they supposed to do—tattoo it on their wrists?
Yes, the numbers are easier to recall, like 988, but how many do call, and how many are kept from ending their lives? Everything is anonymous, including tracking the number of times someone calls or perhaps even the number of times anyone calls. Then, how do we track the effectiveness of the…
