Suicide in the United States is at an alarming rate, so high that it is one of the leading causes of death in our country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says “many factors can increase the risk for suicide or protect against it. Suicide is connected to other forms of injury and violence. For example, people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence have a higher suicide risk.” Being connected to family and community support and having easy access to health care can decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Suicide and suicide attempts cause serious emotional and physical impacts. People who attempt suicide and survive may experience serious injuries that can have long-term effects on their health. They may also experience health concerns.
Suicidal behaviors can affect friends, loved ones, co-workers, and the community. When people die by suicide, their surviving family and friends may experience shock, anger, guilt, symptoms of depression or anxiety, and may even experience thoughts of suicide themselves.
September 10th is National Suicide Prevention Day. This campaign is all about prevention efforts. Suicide is preventable and everyone has a role to play to save lives and create healthy and strong individuals, families, and communities. Lone Star Legal Aid’s Crime Victim Unit employs social workers to assist clients beyond legal services, including mental health needs. The Crime Victim Unit provides legal assistance to victims of crime for a wide range of civil legal issues.
If you or someone you know needs legal help, they can apply by visiting www.lonestarlegal.org.
To read a story justice on a real LSLA client that was facing suicidal thoughts and how LSLA saved his life, click here.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255
For more resources, visit the Texas Crime Victim Legal Assistance Network.
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy on behalf of low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves the millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those who have disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.lonestarlegal.org
Media Contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
