Virginia Beach police last week confirmed what many had suspected and feared: the man who drove his SUV off the end of the Beach Fishing Pier in late January intended to take his own life.
While we do not know the entirety of the circumstances, this was a private tragedy played out on a very public stage.
Area residents who created a small memorial to the deceased at the end of the pier included a hand-written sign urging those experiencing crisis to seek help before it’s too late. It’s a message worth repeating today and as often as possible, knowing it can make a difference.
Let’s say this right away: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis and contemplating self-harm, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org. You do not need to suffer alone.
Provisional data released in August by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found nearly 50,000 Americans died of suicide in 2022, the most recent year figures are available. That would be the highest annual total recorded and represents a 2.6% increase over 2021.
The increase in 2022 would be the second consecutive year that number has jumped following two years (2018-2020) of decline. The suicide rate, which reached 14.3 per 100,000 in 2022, is now at the highest rate in decades.
Another alarming number, also from the CDC, is that 2021 saw 660,000 emergency room visits for incidents of self-harm. The actual number of Americans who attempt suicide is likely far higher, to say nothing of the even greater number of people who consider it.
All of that is further evidence of a profound mental health crisis in this country, one fueled by factors as wide ranging as undiagnosed and untreated mental illness and substance use or addiction, to loneliness, desperation and economic hardship.
Access to firearms is often a determining factor in whether someone who attempts suicide lives and dies, and gun deaths account for more than half of all self-inflicted deaths. That speaks to the need for laws that effectively prevent someone who is a danger of self-harm or of hurting others having access to guns.
But there is more — so much more — that we can do.
We need to prioritize mental health care so that those who need help can receive it quickly and that the ability to pay isn’t a barrier to access. Virginia has done well in recent years to expand mental health services to ensure more residents in more places can get assistance when needed.
The introduction of the 988 crisis line in 2022 eliminated the need for someone in crisis to dial a clunky, hard-to-remember 10-digit number to speak to someone. The new system connects callers to care centers where they can talk through their concerns without judgment. The addition of texting and online options should make a difference for young people.
The country and the commonwealth are also focused on the suicide crisis among veterans, who can dial 988, followed by option 1, to speak to someone who will understand their unique experiences and provide help when needed. Veterans can also text to 838255 for assistance.
While all of those improvements and initiatives are welcome, we cannot depend on others to reduce the suicide rate. We must be proactive whenever possible, checking in on friends and family, taking time for those who are having a hard time, and being alert to signals of distress, such as expressing hopelessness or changes in behavior that might include alcohol or substance abuse.
The strongest thing someone can do is ask for help, especially in a desperate hour, and we need to amplify that message whenever possible. Calling 988 in a time of crisis can make a difference in your life, in the lives of your family and friends, and for our communities.