b'COVER STORY| Twenty-five states in the U.S. had increases inwith over 40 years of full-time nursing expe-rience. Although she no longer works full-time suicide of more than 30% during the time periodas a Clinical Educator, she has maintained an active status as a Nursing Journalist & consul-discussed in this article, and nearly all thosetant during the last few years, writing and collab-orating with nurses around the globe.states are Midwestern or Western in region REFERENCES1.Bbc.com Why U.S. suicide rate is on the rise. Prasad, R. June 2018.2.Cdc.gov National Center for Health Statistics Suicide mortality in the United 2017. For females, the rate increased by 53 per- Additionally, as of 2018, only 10 states inStates, 1999-2017. Hedegaard, H., Curtin, cent in the same time frame. 2 the United States mandated suicide preven- S., and Warner, M. November 2018.What almost no one covers in the suicidetion training for mental health professionals.3.Cnn.com The U.S. suicide rate is up 33% news is that ethnicity plays a huge part inWithout adequate funding for mental healthsince 1999, research says. Howard, J. June suicide. Suicide rates for girls and women rosesystems, behavioral health, and preventative21, 2019.significantly among all racial groups exceptcare, people are struggling everywhere. 1 4.Medpagetoday.com Dramatic suicide for Asians and Pacific Islanders. The larg- One of the last issues that has increasedspikes in U.S. hit native groups hardest. D est increase was among American Indian orthe amount of suicides in the United States isAmbrosio, A. June 20, 2019.Alaskan native girls and women, at 139 per- the availability of firearms. Although school5.Nbcnews.com Massachusetts high court cent. Among boys and men, suicide ratesshootings are by far the most horrific deathsupholds Michelle Carters conviction for increased among all racial and ethnic groups,in the news, most deaths by firearms are sui- texts encouraging boyfriends suicide. Li, again with the highest increase amongcides. No one wants to talk about the subject,D. February 2019.American Indian and Alaskan Native boys andbecause it is always this would never happen men, at 71 percent. The research did have somein my house, but it does. The ease in which limitations, in that people may have been mis- firearms can be obtained means that teens classified to inappropriate racial or ethnicityand adults have a ready means of choosing groups, but the rates of increase proved signif- an action that is irrevocable, an action they icant, nonetheless. 3,4 may never have chosen if they had to wait and But why exactly are suicide rates on the rise?calm down or think through a problem for What cultural and sociological factors accountresolution. 1for the change? Whatever the cause, we are in a crisis, one First, geography has a real factor in thatthat needs to receive our utmost attention. We Western and rural states have higher rateshave a societal and healthcare condition that of suicide. In the year 2016, nearly 45,000is increasing into an avalanche of horrific pro-Americans took their own lives. Where thoseportions. An epidemic of American suicide deaths occurred is important. Twenty-fivehas evolved into epic scope, one that will touch states in the U.S. had increases in suicide ofeach one of us unless we fight for measures of more than 30 percent during the time periodpreventive and supportive care.discussed in this article, and nearly all thoseWe cant afford to lose anyone to this epi-states are Midwestern or Western in region. demic. Who knows where the next Robin According to CDC experts, relationshipWilliams or Chris Cornell might be in this and financial issues appear to have the mostgeneration? They could be in a rural or impact in whether someone decides to termi- Midwestern state right now, waiting for help.nate their life. Rural states, especially those in Midwestern and Western areas, are still strug- U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: gling from economic downturns. People are1-800-273-8255 nmore isolated, without access to appropriate care or support. Many of these states haveDiane Goodman, RN, MSN-C, CCRN, CNRN, been hardest hit by the opioid epidemic as well. is a semi-retired Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, 6 MENTAL HEALTH|2019| www.elitecme.com'