In 2021, 48,152 people in the United Stated died by suicide and over 1.2 million attempted suicide. In Texas, 4,191 died by suicide, more than that of California for the first time ever. What this means is that in Texas, we lost an individual to suicide every 2 hours. Suicide continues to be the 11 th leading cause of death in Texas, and the second leading cause of death for ages 10-34 (CDC, 2023). Suicide, therefore, affects each and every one of us. How we talk about suicide matters. We can make a difference in someone's life through connection, support, and hope. An overview of risk factors, warning signs, and protective factors, and specific steps to take to help someone thinking about suicide will be discussed. Local and national resources will also be shared.
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Jennifer Crutsinger
Youth Suicide Grant Project Director
Texas Health and Human Services Commission