Suicide is responsible for almost one million deaths every year.
Another way to look at this is how Dr. Catherine Le Galès-Camus, from the World Health Organization , describes the rate of suicide each year: "Worldwide, more people die from suicide than from all homicides and wars combined."
Those statistics always astonish me. Maybe because many who commit suicide let us know in ways, subtle and overt, of their intentions. Click here for warning signs you can learn about. Then there are others like 9/11 Survivor Kenny Johannemann - who spiral into the depths of depression, and just leave this world without giving anyone notice. (Trigger alert for the linked story)
It will be 25 years since my dear friend killed herself, and it still continues to linger in my life in a haunting way. If you know someone who is feeling hopeless and in utter despair, or if you, yourself, are battling urges to end your life, please talk to someone. Psych Central offers a great list of suicide resources as does the International Association for Suicide Prevention
The legacy of suicide touches many and it never fades with time.
