THE SUICIDE EPIDEMIC



The Suicide Epidemic! Suicide has been an epidemic in this country for decades. And what has been done to prevent it? 

Between Kate Spade's suicide on June 5th and Anthony Bourdain's on June 8th, the CDC announced on June 7th that suicide rates were rising and suicide was a tragedy for families and communities. On August 27th, the CDC stated that suicide was a serious public health problem.

This was not news if you lost a loved on to suicide. In March 2000, I wrote an article, Let's Stop the Suicide Epidemic - that was published in the Cape Cod Times. Eighteen years later in March 2018, I wrote another article, A Silent Epidemic of Death by Suicide - that was published in the Cape Cod Times.

Between those to articles, suicide increased by 50%, from 30,00 to 45,000. And what was done to prevent it?

What have you done to prevent it, what have we done to prevent it? I realize suicide is difficult to prevent because people keep their thought and plans to themselves - but we must try.

The CDC is correct, suicide is a serious public health problem. And the best way to solve a public health problem is on the local level - openly, loudly and continually, before our local leaders and governments in our community schools, churches and colleges.

Suicides will not be reduced by everyone looking the other way. It will be reduced only when everyone takes up the challenge of making a priority.

Act locally! Your voice can prevent a suicide and save a life.

Contact: fortheheartcries@gmail.com

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