A new national survey reveals that the majority of U.S. adults have been personally affected by suicide, with nearly all agreeing that more can be done to prevent these tragedies. The findings highlight the urgent need for increased access to mental health resources, greater education, and policy changes to address this growing public health crisis. Suicide has a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities, and this data underscores the widespread desire for more effective suicide prevention efforts.
Suicide — The Silent Pandemic
A new poll of 2024 Americans from The Harris Poll reveals a sobering reality of the rate at which suicide occurs in America. Since 2013, the proportion of adults who know someone who has considered, attempted or died by suicide has slowly increased (61% now versus 58% in December 2018).
Worse yet: Twenty-five percent of Americans had personally experienced thoughts or attempts at suicide. This further emphasizes the importance of immediate need to provide care for mental health and check on loved ones, as the ripple effects from this epidemic can be felt throughout communities.
One Voice Not Drowning: A Call To Comprehensive Action…
The results of the survey are unequivocal: the American people clearly understand that prevention needs to be a high-impact, comprehensive response. Ninety-three percent of adults said they believe more can be done to prevent and reduce suicide deaths, with the largest share calling for improvements in access to mental health care, education for healthcare professionals, and public awareness campaigns.
This wide emerging agreement of the overall value and importance this type of approach underlines that there is not need or reason for division among policy makers, mental health organisations or communities. Through eliminating the systemic factors that are making access to mental and emotional health so difficult, as well as breaking down the stigmas around suicide; both at once and together we can empower people to receive help, change more lives by saving them.
Challenges in Awareness and Utilization of Resources
While the results of the survey show that recent federal actions to make suicide prevention resources more accessible are having some impact, such as the June launch of the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, public awareness and understanding still seem to be a mixed bag.
Yet just one-third of adults (33%) could identify the purpose of the 988 hotline in 2022, a modest uptick from two years earlier. During the listening session, specific high-risk individuals (eg, LGBTQ+, Indigenous) also indicated that they were more likely to use 988 but worried about uninsured or underinsured costs as well as limited local availability.
These learnings underscore the necessity of directed outreach and education campaigns that are culturally responsive to help bring awareness to those who will benefit most from available resources. Filling these gaps in awareness and utilization will be the key to maximizing the impact of suicide prevention efforts.
