Your Worst Nightmare: Things We Fear.

One of the absolutes I've come to recognize in life is that it's impossible to define the exact worst human fear. For many it's the death of a child. For other's it's the loss of their most significant other or the threat of a life ending illness. I can tell you that loss in general is feared by all and that suicide in particular is the worst nightmare for almost all parents or partners. It's difficult at a minimum to understand how someone we love could take such a horrific action as ending their life and the emotional impact is devastating on the survivors left in their wake.

Mental Health experts from every discipline endeavor to discover the causes of suicide and to prevent it's occurrence. Currently suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the USA (almost double the rate of homicides) and the 3rd leading cause of death among children/adolescents up to the age of 21.

The most common reaction to a suicide attempt is emergency hospitalization for mental illness. The most common reaction to a verbal suicide threat is evaluation at the hospital emergency room. The problem with common reactions is they denote action only after a crisis. In response, programs geared to prevention and identification have rightfully sprung up all over the Country. Their goals include education of the general public and specific educational strategies for teachers, parents and peers in order to help spot individuals who are suffering and likely to make an attempt. Educational prevention programs have no doubt saved countless live's and are an important aspect in successfully addressing suicide. They tend to be geared toward adolescents specifically but many also address the elderly and adults in general.

The result today is that suicide rates have been reduced in some populations while among others they are on the rise. The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 2005) indicate that suicides per 100,000 are 9 for 10-21 year olds, 11 for all ages combined, 14 for those aged 65 and over, 26 for Police and Firefighters and 38 for incarcerated individuals. Interestingly the rates for incarcerated individuals have fallen the most dramatically (over 100 in the 1990's) most likely as a result of litigation. Researchers in the area of suicide by incarcerated individuals point to in depth and accurate assessment as the main reason for the significant reduction. What this says to those of us that investigate such things is that the use of systematic evaluations based upon well researched assessment devices can be of enormous help in the identification and treatment of suicidal individuals well before a crisis develops.

At Northern Illinois Suicide Assessment we specialize in the evaluation of individuals for the determination of suicide probability before a crisis develops or your worst nightmare is realized. We're glad to answer your questions within 72 hours. Email questions to NISA.

For immediate emergencies call 911 and ask for help; we are not a 24 hour help line and cannot provide emergency help.