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Just a heads up, this episode talks directly about suicide.

This is NPR's Life Kit.

I'm Rithu Chatterjee.

I cover mental health for NPR.

And today, we are talking about something that's long been a taboo topic.

Suicide.

In 2018, the most recent year we have data for, more than 40,000 people died by suicide in the United States.

And a recent report by the CDC suggests that about 11% of adults are having suicidal thoughts during this pandemic.

And that number is higher among 18 to 24-year-olds.

But here's the thing about suicide.

Research shows that it's preventable.

And a recent national survey showed that Americans know this,

and they want to help someone who may be at risk.

But they might not know how to help.

A lot of times folks feel like suicide prevention is only something that professionals can do.

That's De Quincey Luzine.

He's a psychologist and his struggle with thoughts of suicide himself,

and he chairs the Lived Experience Division of the American Association of Suicidology.

Lizzine says, certainly, getting help from a mental health professional is very important.

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