September is national Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Marblehead Counseling Center wants to remind residents of the many resources available for individuals and families who are struggling.
“Suicide prevention actually starts before a mental health crisis,” according to Gregg Mulford, LMHC clinical director at the center. “This is a great time to learn about warning signs, and connect people to vital mental health resources.”
Mulford says many factors may increase the risk for suicide, including underlying mental health issues such as depression. But suicide risk can also be connected to other forms of injury and violence, such as child abuse, bullying or sexual violence. The good news is that there are also factors that help protect against suicide, including being connected to family, strong community support and having easy access to healthcare, mental health experts and the work of organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“We have a lot of tools to fight this crisis,” he said.
By the numbers
The raw numbers are deeply troubling. According to the most recent full-year statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was responsible for 48,824 deaths in 2024. The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is many times higher: an estimated 14.3 million adults seriously thought about suicide in 2024, 4.6 million planned a suicide attempt and 2.2 million attempted suicide.
Suicide deaths consistently outnumber homicide deaths in the U.S., at nearly double the homicide rate.
The suicide rate among males in 2024 was nearly four times higher than the rate among females, and the highest number of suicides use firearms. People ages 80 and older had the highest rates of suicide in 2024; suicide rates among American Indian or Alaska Native people are substantially higher than those of any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 14, 15 to 24, and 25 to 34 in 2023, and according to NAMI, 41% of LGBTQ+ high school students have had serious thoughts of suicide.
Risks and protective factors
Understanding risk factors and helping develop protective connections in the community are both critical in the fight against suicide, Mulford notes. Risk factors are characteristics of a person or the environment that increase the likelihood that a person will take his or her own life, such as owning a firearm, or being diagnosed with a mood disorder. According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, major risk factors for suicide include:
- Prior suicide attempt(s)
- Misuse and abuse of alcohol or other drugs
- Mental disorders, particularly depression and other mood disorders
- Access to lethal means
- Knowing someone who died by suicide, particularly a family member
- Social isolation
- Chronic disease and disability
- Lack of access to behavioral health care
Equally important are the steps we take as a community and as individuals for those who might be at risk, Mulford explains. Access to mental health experts is crucial.
“We are so lucky to have access to quality mental health programs in our community,” he says, pointing out that in the 2025 State of Mental Health in America by Mental Health America,
Massachusetts was ranked sixth in the nation overall in rates of access to care and fourth for youth.
“MCC has been providing mental health services for almost six decades,” Mulford notes, “but we are certainly not alone. Mental health and wellness is taken very seriously in Massachusetts.”
In additional to behavioral and mental health care, SPRC lists these protective factors for suicide prevention:
- Connectedness to individuals, family, community and social institutions
- Life skills (including problem solving skills and coping skills, ability to adapt to change)
- Self-esteem and a sense of purpose or meaning in life
- Cultural, religious or personal beliefs that discourage suicide
- Effective behavioral health care
Take part in spreading the word
Suicide prevention awareness efforts take place around the world this month. Locally, the North Shore Out of the Darkness Walk on Oct. 4 in Newburyport is part of a national campaign to raise funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. A larger event takes place on Oct. 25 at the Boston Common.
“Anything we can do to raise awareness about suicide prevention is a win for us all,” Mulford says.
Suicide prevention hotlines
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: This is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Calls are routed to the nearest crisis center in a national network, where callers receive crisis counseling and mental health referrals. Call or text 988/Chat at 988lifeline.org.
The Trevor Project’s 24/7 Suicide Hotline for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth: Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678.
Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text 1-800-985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish).
Veteran’s Crisis Line: 988, then select 1, or Crisis Chat, or text: 838255
