The Stigma Surrounding Suicide: What You Should Know

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, but the tragedy of suicide should not be contained to a single month. We hope to bring attention to mental health and suicide prevention on a more regular basis. The numbers are too large to ignore. 

The stigma surrounding suicide leads to underreporting, so while the numbers we provide today are accurate, we anticipate the number of attempted and completed suicide is actually even higher than what's reported. 

Here are a few key facts about suicide provided to us by Spiritual Health:

• Health care support personnel make up close to 12% of annual suicides. 
• Female RNs are 33% more likely to die by suicide than women in the general population.
• Between 300—400 physicians die by suicide in the USA each year, meaning nearly one doctor a day dies by suicide.
• The risk of suicide among female physicians is 2.27% higher than females in the general population. 
• Female physicians have higher suicide mortality rate than that of their male counterparts.
• Compared with the general population, physicians are 40% more likely to die by suicide.
• The annual age-adjusted suicide rate is 13.42 per 100,000 individuals. That’s gone up 4X in 25 years.
• Men die by suicide 2x more often than women.
• On average, there are 123 suicides per day.
• The rate of suicide is highest in middle age—white men in particular.
  • White males accounted for close to 16% of all suicides in 2021. 
• 11^th leading cause of death in Texas.
• In Texas, 3x as many people died by suicide in 2019 as compared to those who died in alcohol related MVCs.
• In Texas, 55% of firearm deaths were suicides; 58% of all suicides were by firearms.

For Help

These numbers are all too real, and we want you to know help is available. We have resources in place you can use to help yourself or to help others who may be struggling. 

• Suicide Prevention Hotline – call or text 9-8-8 for free and confidential support
  • Available 24/7, call or text 9-8-8 for access to mental health crisis services.
  • Please note: the previous 1-800-273-TALK (8255) number continues to work as well.
  • More details are provided here.
• Cook Children’s Spiritual Care – talk to someone who works at Cook Children’s
  • Kristin Burrow, Chaplain of Well-Being: Kristin.burrow@cookchildrens.org
• Call, page or Vocera for a Medical Center - Fort Worth chaplain 24/7. Other locations may request a follow-up or phone call with the on-call chaplain 24.7. 
  • To contact a chaplain during business hours, call 682-885-4030.  
  • After 5 p.m., call the operator to page a chaplain.
• CareATC (Employee Assistance Program) – free virtual or in-person access to a licensed counselor
  • Two on-site counselors at the CareATC Fort Worth Health Center is part of our EAP benefits.
  • Employees have access to six free visits with the counselor per issue they are facing.
  • Call Uprise Health at 800-395-1616 to request an appointment with the CareATC counselor.
  • More details are provided here.
• Teladoc – available for Cook Children’s benefits-enrolled employees
  • Schedule a virtual visit with a therapist or psychiatrist, available 7 days a week.
  • There is a $40 copay, regardless of your benefits plan.
  • More details are provided here.
• Responder Health – debrief with a peer in health care
  • Call Responder Health at 206-459-3020
  • More details are provided here.