Please note that this is an Archived article and may contain content that is out of date. The use of she/her/hers pronouns in some articles is not intended to be exclusionary. Eating disorders can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights.
Let’s Talk About … Suicide Prevention Day
With Nicole Hawkins, PhD, CEDS-S
Today is Suicide Prevention Day. According to the CDC, one in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have considered suicide in the past month due to the pandemic. 40% of surveyed Americans have reported an increase in anxiety and substance and report mental health and behavioral issues related to Covid-19. Individuals struggling with eating disorders are at much higher risk for suicide.
-Anorexia suffers are 31 times more likely to make a suicide attempt than the general population.
-Recent research reveals that most anorexia-related deaths are due to suicide. -Individuals with bulimia are 7 times more likely to die by suicide.
-Males with eating disorders exhibited more than double the attempted suicides than females.
-According to the survey completed by the Trevor Project, 58% LGBTQ of those diagnosed with an eating disorder have considered suicide.
-Studies have found that LGBTQ youth attempt suicide more than 3 times more frequently than their heterosexual counterparts.
If you are struggling, reach out to supports that make you feel safe and cared for. Spend time with people, make a point to connect with a support person 30 minutes per day. Please do not suffer in silence, there is always help available at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255.
Dr. Hawkins is a clinical psychologist and is the Chief Executive Officer at Center for Change. She is a specialist in eating disorders and body image and has provided clinical expertise at Center for Change since 1999. Dr. Hawkins developed a comprehensive body image program that focuses on the media, diet industry, plastic surgery, childhood issues, and learning to appreciate one’s body, and she leads these groups for the Inpatient and Residential patients at Center for Change. She is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (Supervisor), has published several articles, and presents regularly at national and regional conferences.
Center for Change is a place of hope and healing that is committed to helping those suffering from eating disorders break free and fully recover. The Center offers intensive treatment for eating disorders and co-occurring issues, including a specialty program for co-occurring diabetes (ED-DMT1), and provides a full continuum of care: Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, and Outpatient services. Located in Orem Utah, Cottonwood Heights (Salt Lake City) Utah, and Boise Idaho, serving females in Inpatient and Residential, and all genders in PHP, IOP, and Outpatient. Accredited by The Joint Commission, AdvancED, and TRICARE® certified.
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