Violence and Injury Prevention Unit
Intentional Injuries: Suicide and homicide
Violence is a major public health problem in the United States. Suicide, homicide, and assault account for most intentional injuries. In Washington, in 2004, about 30% of injury deaths were the result of homicide or suicide (WA Department of Health). In 2003, homicide and suicide accounted for about 30% of all injury deaths in the United States.
As reported in the Centers for Disease Control’s July 7, 2006 “Mortality and Morbidity Weekly,” “violent deaths claimed 49,639 lives in the United States in 2003, most of these deaths were homicides or suicides.”
The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control reported that suicide claimed 32,439 lives in the U.S. in 2004 and homicide claimed an additional 17,729 lives. Furthermore, in 2004, more than 2.2 million Americans suffered non-fatal, violence-related injuries.
Overview
From 2000 to 2004, the WA Department of Health found that suicide was the main cause of intentional injury for King County residents. For this period, firearms were the most common method used in suicide fatalities, causing about 46% of the 967 suicides among King County residents.
For the same period, an additional 4,096 people from King County were hospitalized for attempted suicide. Poisoning was the leading method of non-fatal suicide attempts. It accounted for about 76 % of attempted suicide injuries.
Preventing suicide
The American Association of Suicidology recommends the following to prevent suicide.
Warning signs
There is no typical suicide victim. People of all ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds die from suicide. Fortunately, there are some common warning signs that when acted upon, can save lives.
A person might be suicidal if he or she:
- Talks about committing suicide
- Has trouble eating or sleeping
- Experiences drastic changes in behavior
- Withdraws from friends and/or social activities
- Loses interest in hobbies, work, school, etc...
- Prepares for death by making out a will and final arrangements
- Gives away prized possessions
- Has attempted suicide before
- Takes unnecessary risks
- Has had recent severe losses
- Is preoccupied with death and dying
- Loses interest in his or her personal appearance
- Increases the use of alcohol or drugs
What to do
Here are some ways to be helpful to someone who is threatening suicide:
- Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
- Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
- Be non-judgmental. Do not debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or feelings are good or bad. Do not lecture on the value of life.
- Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
- Do not dare him or her to do it.
- Do not act shocked. This will put distance between you.
- Do not be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
- Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer pat reassurances.
- Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills.
- Get help from people or agencies that specialize in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
Be aware of feelings
Many people at some time in their lives think about committing suicide. Most decide to live, because they eventually come to realize that the crisis is temporary and death is permanent. On the other hand, people having a crisis may believe that their problems are inescapable and feel an utter loss of control. These are examples of what they may experience:
- Can’t stop the pain
- Can’t think clearly
- Can’t make decisions
- Can’t see any way out
- Can’t sleep, eat or work
- Can’t get out of a depression
- Can’t make the sadness go away
- Can’t see a future without pain
- Can’t see themselves as worthwhile
- Can’t get someone’s attention
- Can’t get control
If you experience these feelings, get help!
If someone, you know exhibits these symptoms, offer help!
Contact:
- A community mental health agency
- A private therapist or counselor
- A school counselor or psychologist
- A family physician
- A suicide prevention or crisis center
Where to find help and suicide prevention resources
Overview
Between 2000 and 2004, 341 King County residents died from homicide, or murder. For this period, firearms were the most common method used in homicide fatalities. In fact, firearms were used in 57% of these deaths.
For this same period, 2,847 people from King County were hospitalized for assaults or attempted homicide. “Struck by or against an object” was the leading cause of non-fatal homicide/assault attempts. This method caused about 37% of the assault and attempted homicide injuries during the years 2000 - 2004.
Prevention
The UNITY Project
UNITY (Urban Networks to increase Thriving Youth Through Violence Prevention) is a CDC funded partnership of the Prevention Institute, Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith of the Harvard School of Public Health, and Billie Weiss from the University of California at Los Angeles Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center.
The goal of UNITY is to strengthen urban youth violence prevention, build national support for necessary resources and policies, and develop tools to ensure long-term sustainability of UNITY efforts.
To accomplish this, UNITY aims to engage youth and representatives of the 45 largest cities, along with national violence prevention advocates and leaders, in a national consortium to shape the U.S. strategy for urban youth violence prevention.
UNITY provides tools, training, and technical assistance to help cities be more effective in preventing youth violence.
Violence prevention resources
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check it out
| STEP-UP
A King County program for teens who are violent with parents or family members.
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