CDC Reports Nationwide Increase in Suicide
June 8, 2018
A recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the suicide rate has increased in 49 of the 50 states. About half of the states experienced increases exceeding 30%. The report goes on the discuss measures to prevent suicide, specifically addressing mental health and access to healthcare, housing, and employment.
Unfortunately, suicide attempts are more common in inviduals who have sustained a brain injury, and nearly half of all brain injury survivors report symptoms of depression. The risk of depression after a brain injury increases whether the injury is mild, moderate, or severe. Symptoms include:
- Feeling down or depressed
- Changes in sleeping habits, such as sleeping poorly or sleeping more than usual
- Loss of interest in activities or relationships
- Change in appetite
- Increased use or misuse of substances like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs
- Feelings of dispair or hopelessness
- Attempts at or thoughts of suicide
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression or thoughts of suicide, it is important to get help. Contact BIAA’s National Brain Injury Information Center (NBIIC) at 1-800-444-6443 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Here are some resources for coping with depression after brain injury:
- TBI Model Systems Abstract: Major & Minor Depression After TBI
- Awareness, Depression, and Catastrophic Reaction After Brain Injury (Recorded Webinar)
- Coping with Depression after Traumatic Brain Injury