Facing Suicide: Clinicians discuss how to help loved ones

By Cary Barbor,

Published September 13, 2022 at 1:59 PM EDT

Watch Facing Suicide on PBS Sept. 13th or on pbs.org to explore the stories of those impacted by suicide. Journey to the front lines of research into better prevention and treatment; and learn the steps that friends, family and community members can take to help those at risk.

There is a suicide death in the United States once every 11 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the problem is dire in seniors: The group with the highest rate of suicide are those age 85 and older. The group with the second-highest rate are those age 75-84, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Today on Gulf Coast Life, we hear from Angela Lopez, Director of Access and Outpatient Services at David Lawrence Centers for Behavioral Health in Naples and Derrick Duston, Clinical Director of Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at Charlotte Behavioral Health Care in Punta Gorda. They will talk with us about how to help local seniors in the face of this epidemic.

FACING SUICIDE 01_YOUTUBE 4K.mp4

In conjunction with this conversation, tonight on WGCU PBS TV at 9 PM, we will show a documentary calledFacing Suicide.

If you are thinking about harming yourself or attempting suicide, tell someone who can help right away by calling or texting to the number 988.