America Quote by Kay Redfield Jamison
“Every seventeen minutes in America, someone commits suicide. Mostly, I have been impressed by how little value our society puts on saving the lives of those who are in such despair as to want to end them. It is a societal illusion that suicide is rare. It is not.”
About This Quote
Suicide is far more common than society acknowledges, reflecting a collective neglect of those in deep despair.
In simple terms: Society underestimates suicide prevalence.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address mental health crises.
Themes
mental health
societal neglect
suicide awareness
stigma
public policy
Mood
somber
urgent
reflective
Type
statistical
advocacy
When to use this quote
- clinical counseling
- policymaking
- community outreach
- education programs
- media reporting
Key Concepts
suicide statistics
cultural denial
healthcare access
preventive interventions
Practical Applications
- mental health screening
- suicide prevention campaigns
Questions to Reflect On
- What systemic changes could reduce suicide rates?
- How can individuals support those expressing hopelessness?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that focusing on suicide rates may overlook other pressing health issues, but mental health is integral to overall societal well‑being.
![“...even though [my psychiatrist] understood mor than anyone how much I felt I was losing--in energy, vivacity, and originality--by taking medication, he never was seduced into losing sight of the overall perspective of how costly, damaging, and life threatening my illness was. He was at ease with…” quote by Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/57f/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_life_even-though-my-psychiatrist-understood-m_3399.jpg)
![“I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. [salutes]” quote by Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d2/bill-hicks-970_america_i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumor_655.jpg)
