This is an update from an article I wrote after the death’s of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade in 2018.
Unfortunately, the rates of Suicide continue to go up. And quite frankly, the Church has done a poor job in helping stem these tragic deaths.
According to the National Institue of Health’s 2017 report, Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S.
- Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall, claiming 47,000.
- Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among 35–54-year-olds.
- There were twice as many suicides (47,173) in the U.S. as there were homicides (19,510) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Leading Cause of Death Report in 2017.
The deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade have unfortunately brought into focus the alarming rise in suicide among Americans. I have to admit Bourdain’s suicide caught me off guard. I have always admired his ability to bring people together over food. I have appreciated his snarky attitude, and his uncanny ability to expand our understanding and appreciation of other cultures through the most common and intimate interactions we humans can have, breaking bread together. In the past several years, I have…
