CHICAGO (WLS) — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 49,000 Americans died by suicide in 2024.
The number of people who thought about or attempted suicide reached into the millions. The CDC estimates 14.3 million seriously considered it, and 2.2 million attempted suicide.
September is Suicide Prevention Month. Jasmine Watkins is the chief program officer with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Chicago.
Watkins says there are signs someone might be struggling. But she says more than that, they talk about noticing changes.
“Things that you might notice would be changes in things that people are saying. People might be talking about giving away possessions or not wanting to be here or feeling hopeless, feeling like a burden, potentially. Changes in mood, appetite, sleep. Someone who usually reaches out to connect and is really connected to their community, might start isolating,” Watkins said.