“Suicide is devastating for families who lose a loved one and are left trying to make sense of what happened and wondering if there was something they could have done to prevent it. Suicide touches the whole community and leaves people deeply shaken. Suicide Prevention Month is a time we focus special attention on educating everyone about the warning signs of suicide and providing information about resources for those at risk and their families. Early treatment of depression and other mental health conditions are key to preventing suicide,” said Patricia Ravitz, LMFT and President of CAMFT. “As experts in the treatment of depression, relationship issues, addiction, trauma, and anxiety, CAMFT reminds Californians that Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists can be a vital part of a treatment plan to help those struggling with thoughts of suicide.”

Suicide is often related to serious depression, substance use disorders, and can surface with difficulties in personal relationships, the loss of a job, bullying or in abusive situations. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), suicide is the third leading cause of death for people ages 10–24, and the second leading cause of death for people ages 15–24.

Many of our nation's veterans and military service members are also susceptible to suicide due to the stressors and trauma of war and combat. An estimated 18-22 veterans die by suicide each day.³

In California, the suicide rate has been consistently lower than the national average; however, at 10.9 per 100,000 individuals,⁴ the data points to a critical need for families and communities to better recognize psychological distress and to seek mental health care treatment when loved ones need help.

The best way to prevent suicide is through early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and other mental health conditions.⁵Marriage and Family Therapists are mental health experts licensed and trained to treat a variety of mental health concerns. Marriage and Family Therapists are located in communities throughout California and can be accessed by visiting www.counselingcalifornia.com. Individuals can click on “Find a Therapist” and indicate preferences for location, language, and mental health specialization.

About CounselingCalifornia.com: 
CounselingCalifornia.com is California's lifeline to finding a Marriage and Family Therapist who can help manage life's challenges. At its heart, CounselingCalifornia.com contains a comprehensive searchable directory of thousands of Marriage and Family Therapists. For more information on mental health issues and access an online directory of therapists, visit CounselingCalifornia.com.

About California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT):
CAMFT is an independent professional organization of over 32,000 members representing Marriage and Family Therapists. It is dedicated to advancing the profession, maintaining high standards of professional ethics, upholding the qualifications for the profession and expanding awareness of the mental health treatment provided by Marriage and Family Therapists for individuals, couples and families. For more information, contact CAMFT at www.camft.org.

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¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics. Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999–2014. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db241.htm
² American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Suicide Statistics. Retrieved from Suicide Among Students Prevention Guide
³“Mental Health by the Numbers,” National Alliance on Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers
⁴American Association of Suicidology. U.S.A. Suicide: 2014 Official Final Data. Retrieved from http://www.suicidology.org/Portals/14/docs/Resources/FactSheets/2014/2014datapgsv1b.pdf
⁵ American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Retrieved from http://theovernight.donordrive.com/?fuseaction=cms.page&id=1034