PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a common condition that is experienced by a wide variety of different people throughout the world. The most common belief is that PTSD is only experienced by veterans who are returning from their service but in reality, PTSD is the result of any traumatic event that is experienced by an individual. PTSD is a difficult condition to live with as it can bring forth an ample amount of negative effects such as inability to sleep, extreme anxiety, and even depression. With that being said, it is also the leading cause for suicide around the world.
35 Facts About PTSD Related Suicide
1. In 2012 over 5000 suicides in the United States alone occurred as a result of combat-based PTSD.
2. PTSD related suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
3. 7.5% of people in the world experience PTSD during their lifetime.
4. 5 million Americans suffer from PTSD on an annual basis.
5. Women are 2 times more likely (10%) to acquire PTSD than men (5%).
6. The majority of individuals with PTSD also suffer from further mental disorders such as depression.
7. Police officers, firefighters, war veterans, and EMT workers are more vulnerable to PTSD than traditional citizens.
8. Anyone who is suffering from PTSD is at an incredibly high risk for suicide.
9. 22% of people who had suffered PTSD from rape attempted suicide at one point in their lifetime.
10. 23% of individuals with PTSD from a physical assault event also attempted suicide at one point in their lives.
11. 24% of individuals who were confronted with sexual assault as a child attempted suicide throughout their lifetime.
12. The severity of PTSD depends on the severity of the situation and the duration of the event.
13. Aside from self-harm, sufferers from PTSD will be prone to other dangerous behavior such as violence, hatred, and estrangement.
14. 60% of women in the world experience a trauma at one point in their lives.
15. 50% of men experience a trauma at one point in their lives.
16. 11% to 20% of veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars suffer from PTSD.
17. 10% of the Gulf War vets suffer from PTSD.
18. 30% of veterans from Vietnam suffer from PTSD.
19. 55% of women in the military developed a form of PTSD from sexual harassment and assault.
20. 38% of men in the military developed a form of PTSD from sexual harassment and assault.
21. 36.6% of PTSD victims are classified as severe cases (at-risk for suicide).
22. The majority of individuals suffering from PTSD are between the ages of 45 and 59, followed by 30 years of age and 44 years old.
23. 49.9% of people suffering from PTSD are currently in the process of receiving treatment via a licensed healthcare professional.
24. $42.3 billion is allocated to the prevention and assistance associated with PTSD treatment.
25. Individuals with PTSD have the highest rate of using healthcare services due to the fact that there are wide arrays of symptoms experienced from this disorder.
26. 60% to 80% of individuals who are victims of a severe traumatic event will develop PTSD.
27. 50% of outpatient mental health professionals have PTSD.
28. There have been higher rates of PTSD seen in African Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics.
29. 1 in 5 veterans returning from combat will have PTSD.
30. 13% to 43% of boys and girls will experience a traumatic event during their childhood.
31. 30% to 60% of children who survive a specific disaster suffer from PTSD.
32. 33% of youth that are exposed to community violence develop PTSD.
33. 90% of sexually abused children develop PTSD.
34. 77% of children exposed to a school shooting develop PTSD.
35. Over 65% of children exposed to a traumatic event will attempt to take their own life at one point during their lifetime.
Some of the most common causes for PTSD include:
• Exposure to combat.
• Physical or sexual abuse as a child.
• Terrorist attacks.
• Physical or sexual assault at any point in your lifetime.
• Serious accidents such as a traumatic car wreck.
• Exposure to natural disasters such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, or earthquake.
The reason as to why an individual experienced PTSD is generally due to the fact that a traumatic event can force you to think that your life and the lives of people around you are in danger. The majority of individuals suffering from this disorder have zero control over what is happening around them at any given time. There are an abundance of other stress related issues that can occur after an extremely traumatic event and this means that not everyone is affected by PTSD as a result of an event. If you notice that any jittery or jumpy reactions do not cease after a minimal amount of time, you may have developed PTSD. Although an ample amount of research has gone into the realm of PTSD, the psychiatric world is still unaware of why some people develop PTSD and others do not.
Types of PTSD
There are four main types of PTSD that may be experienced by an individual who has lived through a traumatic event:
1. Re-Experiencing Symptoms
Also known as reliving the event, individuals will be tormented by horrible memories and nightmares of the event. This can force the mind to believe that it is reliving the event over and over. Many medical professionals also refer to this event as a flashback.
2. Avoidance
Many individuals who are burdened by PTSD have the tendency to avoid situations that may trigger any memories that remind them of the traumatic event. This can also lead to avoiding any thought processes that pertain to the situation.
3. Negative Personality Changes
Personality changes are another prevalent issue associated with PTSD. Sufferers will commonly have a skewed perception of how they think of themselves and how others think of them. These emotions could include shame, guilt, or fear. This can also lead individuals to be less interested in activities that they otherwise would have enjoyed prior to the event.
4. Hyperarousal
Hyperarousal is incredibly common for people with PTSD as it is the factor that brings forth the jittery sensations and constant state of being uneasy. This is a result of constantly being on the lookout for dangerous situations.
Aside from the many negative factors associated with PTSD, the most unfortunate aspect is that individuals have a higher potential for participating in suicide. Considering that PTSD can completely change the way that a person sees the world, it is an incredibly difficult condition to try to overcome. With the combination of depression, hyperarousal, and always believing that something negative is going to occur, suicide may seem like the only option for many sufferers.
PTSD is an incredibly detrimental mental health condition that requires an ample amount of treatment. If left untreated, the sufferer could experience an array of different symptoms ranging from abusive tendencies to depression. Unfortunately, without the help of a trained mental health professional, individuals who suffer from PTSD are incredibly likely to take their own life. As the leading cause of suicide around the world, it is imperative that if you or someone that you know is suffering from PTSD, you should find medical assistance immediately. This will most certainly help to ensure that you are able to live a happy and healthy life without fear of the event occurring again.