I used to mark off the years that passed by without an admission on an imaginary chalkboard. I'd put an asterisk next to those that involved a suicide attempt.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 11th-leading cause of death in the US. In 2022, 49,476 Americans died by suicide and there were an estimated 1.6 million attempts.
The stigma surrounding suicide compounds the likelihood that people won't share their intent. There is a feeling of embarrassment or that they must be 'crazy.'
In my late twenties, I was diagnosed with anorexia and major depressive disorder. I made a second suicide attempt in 1989 after losing my job due to a second extended hospitalization.
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