Suicide Is Preventable - Editorial
Earlier this month, the death of an 18-year-old Bourne resident shocked and saddened the community. The death of someone so young is tragic, and it was made even more so after police indicated that the incident was a suicide.
About five weeks prior to that, the Town of Bourne declared September to be Suicide Prevention and Action Month as part of a regional initiative by the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition. The organization is dedicated to providing local communities with the information and tools needed to raise awareness about suicide, promote education on mental health and increase action to combat suicide.
Barnstable County has seen high suicide rates in recent years, more so than almost every other county in the state. Bourne’s police chief said in August that there has been an increase in suicides and suicide attempts over the past year, especially involving the bridges. We have reported on almost half a dozen individuals who either jumped or attempted to jump from one of the two Cape Cod Canal bridges in the past year alone.
But despite rising rates, suicide remains a silent endemic. This is due largely to societal factors that dissuade or prevent individuals from seeking support, including enduring stigmas surrounding mental health, the financial burden of quality care and a lack of accessible resources or education.
Work is being done to mitigate these factors and help is out there, but there is much more to be done. We should all be aware of the signs of someone struggling and make a habit of checking in on our loved ones, ready to offer support if and when it is needed.
Some groups are more at risk for suicide or self-harm than others. The World Health Organization reported this year that suicide is a leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15 and 29. Seventy-seven percent of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income regions. Individuals belonging to groups that are often subjected to discrimination—including LGBTQ+ people, refugees, the formerly incarcerated and Indigenous peoples—are at a higher risk for suicide. And that risk only increases with the intersectionality of various marginalized identities; for example, the CDC said that in 2021 more than 25 percent of LGBTQ+ high school students reported attempting suicide in the past year. That is one in four students, a rate five times higher than what was reported by heterosexual students.
With quality, accessible and timely care, suicide is preventable. Help is out there and, as difficult as it may be to see for someone who is struggling, there is reason to hope.
If you or a loved one are experiencing a crisis, the following organizations are available to help:
The Samaritans on Cape Cod and the Islands: 508-548-8900 or 800-893-9900 (available anytime)
Youth Crisis Support: text START to 741-741
Veterans Crisis Line: call 988, then press 1
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 (features English, Spanish and a chat function) or call/text 988
Bay Cove Emergency Services Crisis Line: 833-229-2683
Cape Cod Hospital Behavioral Health Crisis Team: 833-229-2683.
The Trevor Project helpline for LGBTQ+ individuals: 866-488-7386 or www.trevorproject.org (available anytime)
Crisis Text Line: (24/7 support to those in crisis via text message, online chat or WhatsApp) www.crisistextline.org or text HOME to 741741
For those who are depressed but not in crisis, primary care physicians and community health centers will provide help. For those who have difficulty navigating the healthcare system, Barnstable County’s Network of Care of Health and Human Services Department can provide assistance.