September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Magellan Health marked September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, with Barry M. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Magellan Health, and Sam Srivastava, chief executive officer of Magellan Healthcare, releasing the following statement:

“Suicide produces a ripple effect through communities of friends, family, loved ones and co-workers, and its effects are devastating. There are people in our own communities, too, who have attempted suicide and may be coping with the after-effects of their decision, both physically and emotionally.

“Magellan Health has long believed that suicide should be a ‘never’ event, and that even one suicide is one too many.

“Consider these facts:
• Every 13 minutes, someone dies from suicide in the United States.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the military, with roughly 20 veterans each day committing suicide.
• For each suicide, six other people are directly impacted.
• Ninety percent of individuals who die by suicide have experienced mental illness.

“During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and always, we each have an obligation to extend a hand to individuals at risk, as well as to their families, and the five million survivors of suicide living among us.

“If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).”