Issue Paper

The topic I have chosen for this paper is the issue of suicide across the nation. Suicide is on the rise across the nation and it is extremely difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of what makes a person want to commit such a devastating act. On average around 1 person commits suicide every 16 minutes. There are around 7 billion people in this world and it is almost impossible to accurately diagnose and foresee future events, especially something like suicide. There are many different websites and hotlines to call if people are ever feeling down or at risk of hurting themselves. Many people are unaware of the different options and sources that they could use in order to help them feel better. They are afraid of telling their problems or how they feel to others because the last thing they want to feel is judged. People who are thinking about suicide or are hurting themselves tend to be in a very fragile state but it is still difficult to clearly see that if you were to see them in person. Although it may be difficult to recognize how a person feels, there is still many small warning signs that the person may have that could indicate whether they feel suicidal or not. Small signs such as changes in sleep or having increasing mood changes good be two good indicators as to how a person is managing their life. Although it is very difficult for a person who wants to potentially commit suicide or is having negative thoughts to speak up about how they are feeling, you can always try to start a conversation to discuss it. It is mostly important that the other person feels comfortable and safe enough to open up around you. If they do not feel that way, then the chances of the talking to you about it is very unlikely. It is very important to show your concern for the situation and listen. Listening is vital to this situation because the person who is