Chances are, you or someone you know has been impacted by suicide or suicidal ideation, as evidenced by these sobering facts: In 2023, suicide was responsible for 49,316 deaths, or one death every 11 minutes by suicide. There were also an estimated 1.5 million suicide attempts, and suicide was the 8th leading cause of death among individuals ages 10 – 64.
Warning Signs of Suicide
Warning signs that someone may be struggling with suicidal thoughts could include the following:
- Talking about wanting to die, feeling guilty or ashamed, feeling as though one is a burden to others
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, trapped, having no reason to live
- Displaying extreme sadness, anxiety, agitation, or being full of rage
- Experiencing unbearable emotion or pain
- Changes in behaviors such as making a plan or researching ways to die, withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items or making a will
- Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
- Extreme mood swings, eating or sleeping more or less, increased drug or alcohol use
Additionally, research has shown that medical conditions that last (1) year or more can increase an individual’s risk for suicidal behavior. Individuals with multiple chronic conditions may experience adverse behavioral health outcomes, such as depression.
At ConcertoCare, patients are universally screened for depression and anxiety. Individuals reporting significant symptoms are referred to the behavioral health team for further assessment by a licensed clinical social worker. For individuals reporting thoughts of self-harm, the team conducts further evaluation, completes safety planning, and provides appropriate referrals to the right resources at the right time.
Beyond the urgent need, ConcertoCare team members reduce patient risk for suicide by assisting them in managing the burden of their chronic conditions, such as:
- Connecting patients to effective behavioral health care,
- Increasing opportunities for connectedness to individuals, family, community and social institutions,
- Practicing life skills, including problem solving skills and coping skills, as well as adaptability to change,
- Improving self-esteem and identifying a sense of purpose or meaning in life, and / or
- Providing a safe space to explore cultural, religious, or personal beliefs that discourage suicide.
The ConcertoCare Model in Action
ConcertoCare’s integrated model of care recognizes that achieving optimal health and well-being requires a holistic approach that includes behavioral health, from early identification of need to timely access to care, as demonstrated in the following case scenario.
JC is a 71-year-old with multiple chronic conditions, including COPD, diabetes, and spinal cord injury. During JC’s initial provider visit, he was assessed for depression and further evaluated for suicidal risk. Upon confirming JC was not at risk of harm, he was referred to the behavioral health team for further support, and our licensed clinical social worker completed a thorough behavioral health assessment. Following the assessment, our social worker helped JC identify harmful thoughts that were increasing his feelings of hopelessness and reworked them into helpful thought patterns. Additionally, our Community Health Worker was deployed to identify community support resources, ranging from senior centers to a swimming club. Referrals were also made to behavioral health providers that specialized in managing behavioral health conditions and co-occurring medical conditions. Ensuring integration of medical, behavioral, and social health care, JC was also connected with an online peer support group for individuals with spinal injuries. Within a short time, JC reported a significantly improved mood and no suicidal ideation.
September is Suicide Prevention Month. It is a time to remember that suicide is a major health crisis, but there is help and hope today, this month, and every day throughout the year.
If you or someone you know is suffering, please call 988, which is the 24/7 Crisis Hotline, or visit 988lifeline.org.
