KSHB: Suicide Rates High in Middle-Aged White Men

September is Suicide Awareness Month. Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the highest rate of suicide is in middle-aged white men – that’s according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. In 2020, 69% of Americans who died by suicide were white males. There are ways loved ones and even strangers can help someone in a mental health emergency. 

Monty Miller, psychotherapist at Saint Luke’s Behavioral Health Specialist, about why suicide rates are higher in this population. 

Saint Luke's offers a special crisis training called Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) Training. QPR is a community education for the community – companies, schools, etc. – that is helping someone save a life. We see it like CPR – you give CPR to some who isn’t breathing and needs help – QPR does that for those whose mental health needs new life breathed into them.  "Q" stands for Question, "P" stands for Persuade, and "R" stands for refer. Monty is one of the trainers of this program. 

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