Fort Kent ~ Nearly 170 individuals registered for the fifth annual Out of the Darkness walk in Fort Kent on September 12th. Over $9,000 in pledges was collected, double the amount from the previous year. The Out of the Darkness walk is an event held internationally each year to raise awareness about suicide and the public’s role in its prevention.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), collects data about mortality in the United States, including deaths by suicide. In 2013, the most recent year for which full data are available, 41,149 suicides were reported, making suicide the tenth leading cause of death for Americans. In that year, someone in the country died by suicide every 12.8 minutes. This does not take into account the number of failed suicide attempts.
Events such as the one held on September 12th, help to create a public awareness about suicide. According to the CDC, from 1986 to 2000, suicide rates in the United States dropped from 12.5 to 10.4 suicide deaths per 100,000 people. Over the next twelve years, however, the rate generally increased and by 2013, stood at 12.6 deaths per 100,000.
Suicide is a national health problem that takes an enormous toll on family, friends, co-workers, and the entire community. Northern Maine Medical Center (NMMC) offers a monthly support group the first Thursday of every month.
The group is a safe place for survivors to meet, share, and work together to heal. The sessions are free and open to the public.
According to the AFSP, suicide almost always has multiple causes and many times these causes go unrecognized and untreated. Some of the warning signs can include: talking about wanting to die and feeling hopeless, increasing use of alcohol or drugs, sleeping too much or too little, withdrawing or feeling isolated or displaying extreme mood swings. The more of these warning signs a person shows, the greater the risk for suicide. When these and other signs are identified, treatment can be initiated, thereby reducing the risk for suicide.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the leader in the fight against suicide, reports that suicide is preventable. Know the facts. For more information about warning signs and treatment options, go to www.afsp.org or call NMMC at 207-834-3155.
To learn more about NMMC’s many services, to make a donation or to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.nmmc.org and Like us on Facebook.