Introduction
I listened to the lyrics to the AJR song, BANG! for the first time today and immediately noticed its connection to suicide. Curious why this wasn't obvious to more people, I googled it and discovered that I may be one of the few people who think this way. I'm not crazy, right?Song Analysis
Listen to the chorus: "Everybody come hang (come hang). Let's go out with a bang. Bang! Bang! Bang!" These repeated words brought to my mind a couple of terrifying statistics:
- Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for college-age youth and youth ages 12-18 (CDC WISQARS)
- The two leading methods of suicide (in high-income countries) are hanging and firearms (The Parent Resource Program).
As I continued to examine the song lyrics, I realized EVERYTHING about the song supported my interpretation. This radio hit doesn't necessarily glorify suicide. It's more of a social commentary on the frustrating plight of American youngsters. It draws in listeners with its seductive tune, upbeat tempo, and subtle yet resonant message. ("I'm thinking it's time to grow.") The lyrics describe the collective coming-of-age experience of Gen Z young adults, who, despite their revelry, find themselves prematurely confronted with crucial life decisions and a losing hand. As reflected in their gambling-themed music video, the privilege and responsibility of adulthood are represented by finally being allowed to play craps. However, observing other adults literally losing their shirts in this unfair game, they defiantly choose to cash out of life while they're ahead. ("I'm thinking it's time to go...") What an anti-happy message! Even the ironically positive melody colliding with the dark lyrics serves to illustrate the devil-may-care attitude of youth as they stare down the barrel of hopeless futures.
This song was a wake-up call for me. I work with youth, both professionally and in my church service. I worry that I do not fully understand just how present this issue is for many of them. Like the topic of homosexuality, talk of suicide was taboo in my youth. Younger Millennials regularly "joke" about wishing they were dead. But suicidal ideation seems to be on a whole other level among Gen Zers. I must work much harder to actively identify youth struggling with this issue.
As I jumped into the latest research, one big takeaway stood out – one of the most important things an ally can do is to simply ask, "Are you thinking about hurting/killing yourself?" when you notice tell-tale signs in someone. And if they say yes, the following suicide prevention PSA gives some tips on what to say (and what not to say).
Suicide Awareness
Why is World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th?
World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). The 10th of September each year aims to focus attention on the issue, reduce stigma, and raise awareness among organizations, governments, and the public, giving a singular message that suicides are preventable. (The U.S. and other nations extend this day to the entire month of September in National Suicide Prevention Month.)
I can think of a number of reasons why they selected this date:
- Importance to Educators - Educators feel the brutal impact of suicide in their workplace each school year. These community caretakers demonstrate how personally they take this issue by prioritizing it early into the school year. This way, students immediately have the resources they need as they navigate their new environments.
- A Statistically High Month - I can't find any international or national statistics on this, but September had the highest youth suicide in Montana in 2014. (January was the second highest...)
- The Theme of Death is Naturally Reflected in The Change of Seasons - The transition from summer to fall often marks a period of change and adjustment, making it a suitable time to address mental health concerns.
- New Information Dissemination - Perhaps organizations that develop materials and provide resources revamp them during the summer months. Observance in September allows leaders to share the latest stats and resources just as students return to school.
What If We Added Another Round of Awareness in January?
I can think of several reasons why adding another National Suicide Prevention Month in January would be beneficial:
I love this post and your support of struggling individuals. And I think January is the perfect time to add another Suicide Prevention Day-most needy month of the year! September- who in the world chose September and why?! I had no idea suicide was the second highest cause of death in that age group. And I would wager that a very small percentage of our population knows that.
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