JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Suicide. It is a serious public health problem in the U.S. The suicide rate among people of all ages has increased over the past 20 years.
Among U.S. college athletes, suicide is now the second leading cause of death after accidents.
Rates have doubled from 7.6% to 15.3% over the past 20 years. That’s according to a just published study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
People may be surprised because we think college athletes have protective factors. Support of teams, coaches, trainers, doctors and others. Yet, it doesn’t insulate college athletes from mental health concerns.
It raises a lot of questions, the biggest being why.
Nicole Davidson-Harshaw, a nationally board-certified licensed mental health counselor with LJD Family and Community Services, talked on The Morning Show and answered some of those questions.
Important numbers
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 (TALK) or 988; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Text TALK to 741741 (suicide)
- Text HOME to 741741 (crisis)
- Children Home Society’s Family Support: Warm Line 1-888-733-6303 (chslistens.com)
- United Way: Dial 211 for 24-hour crisis intervention and suicide prevention
- The Vinson Foundation: Helping Families Coping with Suicide Loss (https://thevinsonfoundation.org/)
- Heretomorrow: Helpline in Neptune Beach available Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. -- (904) 372-9087 (heretomorrow.org)
- LSF Health Systems: 24/7 ACCESS TO CARE LINE: (877) 229-9098 (https://www.lsfhealthsystems.org/)