SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH AND THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAYS THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT DURING THE PANDEMIC. 

MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE IN ILLINOIS TAKE THEIR OWN LIVES EACH YEAR AND SUICIDE IS THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR AGES 15 TO 34. STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DOCTOR NGOZI (en-gahzi) EZIKE (eh-zee-kay) SAYS WHILE THERE ARE NO STATISTICS ABOUT SUICIDE RATES RELATED TO COVID-19, IT IS A CONCERN.

WHILE THERE AREN’T STATISTICS YET REGARDING COVID-19 RELATED SUICIDES, MANY OF THE ISSUES PEOPLE ARE FACING NOW SUCH AS JOB LOSS, FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ARE RISK FACTORS.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS FEELING HOPELESS AND HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, EZIKE ENCOURAGES YOU TO CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AT: 1-800-273-TALK.