PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — From 1999 to 2018, South Dakota’s suicide rates rose by nearly 40 percent. Just last year, 168 South Dakotans died by suicide, making it the tenth leading cause of death in our state. It’s especially common among young people.
September marks Suicide Awareness month, Noem with the aid of The Departments of Health, Social Services, Education, Agriculture, and Tribal Relations has taken on the task of developing a comprehensive plan to prevent suicide in South Dakota. Part of the plan will be reaching out to community members, faith leaders, and other organizations for their input to build a plan that empowers communities to fight the issue.
“Despite knowing how far-reaching suicide is, we too often lean heavily on narrow stereotypes to determine the type of people most likely to be impacted, Noem says. It’s important to remember that suicidal thoughts can afflict anyone, making it absolutely critical to watch out for the people in your life. Characteristics like increased alcohol and drug use; talking, writing, or thinking about death; withdrawal from family and friends; and impulsive or reckless behavior can all be warning signs to look out for.”
If someone you know is struggling, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) is open around the clock for help and the Avera Farmer Stress hotline (1-800-691-4336) is available, too. Additional information, resources, and support are available on our website, sdsuicideprevention.org.
