Ming said she became very depressed after moving to Virginia from Florida, felt lonely and even stopped eating. But I found it very difficult to talk about my feelings with anyone. Interviews with students after they watched a suicide prevention video led to intervention in Ming's case. The 11th grader is now involved in regular counseling sessions. Now that I'm learning more about myself, I'm feeling much better.
Suicide affects all demographic groups in America.
National Institute of Mental Health statistics shows more men than women taken their own lives. In 1997, NIMH reported that 72 percent of all suicides were committed by white men. In addition, white men commit 79 percent of all firearm suicides. Satcher credited the U.S. Air Force with saving lives through its suicide prevention efforts. The program covers 350,000 active duty Air Force members and thousands of civilian employees, and involves every member of the community in suicide education.