From ‘The Secret Epidemic’
• During 1980-1995, the suicide rate for adolescent Black males ages 15-19 increased from 5.6 to 13.8 per 100,000 of the population. While adolescent Black males historically have had lower suicide rates than adolescent White American males, suicide is now becoming equally or more prevalent among African-Americans.
• Black males ages 15-19 die from homicide at 46 times the rate of their White counterparts. Suicide Warning Signs: Appearing depressed or sad Expressing hopelessness Withdrawing from family and friends Sleeping too much or too little Gaining or losing a significant amount of weight Writing notes or poems about suicide or death Acting compulsively Losing interest in most activities Giving away prized possessions Acting irrationally Being preoccupied with death or dying Behaving recklessly A dramatic change in personal appearance or personality Performing poorly at work or in school Abusing alcohol or drugs Inability to concentrate Source: Suicide.org Resources:
• For more information on the Kelvin Mikhail Suicide Awareness Campaign, visit www.kelvin-mikhail.info.
•The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service. Calls are routed to the closest possible crisis center in the caller’s area.
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