Suicide is a serious topic that we rarely discuss.

Yet, each year thousands of adults and children either attempt or complete suicide to resolve problems or put an end to emotional pain. As a result of their deaths, surviving family members and friends not only grieve but must cope with feelings of guilt and anger as well.

According to the American Association of Suicidolgy, statistics show that in 2010 approximately 38,000 people completed suicide. Suicide was the tenth leading cause of adult deaths in the United States; homicide ranked sixteenth. Specifically, more Americans kill themselves than are killed by others. Men completed suicide four times more often than women. An alarmingly high rate of suicide deaths was seen in young adults age 15-24 (third leading cause of death for this age group). Approximately 959,100 suicide attempts are made annually. For every suicide death, it is estimated that an average of six family members and friends will experience the pain of grief; a figure I believe is very low. “A rate increase was seen from 2009 to 2010, continuing the recent rate increases after long-term trends of decline”. Read more....