September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., and in 2017, 47,173 Americans died by suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The agency also reports that in 2017, there were an estimated 1.4 million suicide attempts. On average, there are 129 suicides per day.

IN Kentucky, the suicide rates are historically higher than the national average. In 2017, the national suicide rate was 14, which is measured by the number of suicides per 100,000 individuals. In the same year, Kentucky’s rate at 17.02.

Kentucky ranks 21st in the U.S. for suicide rates.

According to a 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates are on the rise.

Suicide rates have increased by 30 percent since 1999. Nearly 45,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2016 alone.

Suicide is a complicated issue that does not have a single cause. While mental health certainly plays a large role in many peoples’ suicide attempts, it is not the only factor. Those who do not suffer with mental health issues can also turn to suicide as an option.

“…CDC researchers examined state-level trends in suicide rates from 1999-2016. In addition, they used 2015 data from CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System, which covered 27 states, to look at the circumstances of suicide among people with and without known mental health conditions,” according to the report. “Researchers found that more than half of people who died by suicide did not have a known diagnosed mental health condition at the time of death. Relationship problems or loss, substance misuse; physical health problems; and job, money, legal or housing stress often contributed to risk for suicide. Firearms were the most common method of suicide used by those with and without a known diagnosed mental health condition.”

The thought of someone you love considering suicide or dying by suicide can be scary, and even more frightening if you are thinking about dying by suicide yourself.

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.

One way to prevent suicide is to know the warning signs and to respond compassionately.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, some warning signs that someone may be considering suicide include:

— Comments or thoughts about suicide — also known as suicidal ideation — can begin small like, “I wish I wasn’t here” or “Nothing matters.” But over time, they can become more explicit and dangerous.

— Increased alcohol and drug use

— Aggressive behavior

— Withdrawal from friends, family and community

— Dramatic mood swings

— Impulsive or reckless behavior

More seriously, some people may begin to exhibit suicidal behaviors, which is an emergency. In this case, seek immediate help from a doctor or call 911. These behaviors include:

— Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon

— Giving away possessions

— Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts

— Saying goodbye to friends and family.

During this month take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the signs that someone may be suffering through feelings that might lead to suicide or if they may already be considering suicide.

NAMI has created a resource called, “Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: A NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency,” so people experiencing mental health emergencies and their loved ones can have the answers and information they need when they need it. It can be accessed at www.nami.org/crisisguide.

A little understanding, compassion and help can go a long way.

Most of all, remind those around you there is hope for a brighter future, and suicide is never the best answer. There is help out there and things can and will get better.

Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. The board is comprised of publisher Michael Caldwell and Bluegrass Newsmedia editors Whitney Leggett and Ben Kleppinger. To inquire about a meeting with the board, contact Caldwell at 759-0095.