LIVE Discussion | September is Suicide Prevention Month

SAN ANGELO, TX— Dr. Frank Campbell and James Bouligny talk about Shine a Light in San Angelo on Saturday, September 7. September is Suicide Prevention Month and the conversation got a little more real than James expected.

According to the National Institution of Mental Health, in 2021, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death overall in the United States and it was the 2nd leading cause of death among people ages 10-14, 3rd between 15-24, and 5th between 35-44. There were nearly 2 times as many suicides as homicides.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in 2022, there were 49,476 suicides and 1.6 million suicide attempts. Men died by suicide 3.85 times more than women and firearms accounted for about 55% of all suicide deaths. 94% of adults in the United States think suicide can be prevented.

The VA reported that in 2021, 18 veterans died by suicide per day.