All of a sudden, does it seem like the topic of suicide is everywhere? Cornell’s recent rush of suicides and the suicidal Twitter messages reported by celebrities like Demi Moore and Nia Vardalos has caused an often secretive subject to flash brightly on the public radar. But suicide is not a new epidemic. Once every 16 minutes a person commits suicide in the United States and once every minute a suicide attempt is made. Though a certain style of sensationalistic and detailed media reporting on suicide has been proven to actually increase the suicide rate, talking about what we can all do to prevent suicide is essential to saving lives. The most important lesson we can take from any coverage of suicide, and from the life-saving interventions of Moore and Vardalos, is to NEVER ignore a person in need and to NEVER be a bystander.
When we look at recent stories of the teen who took her own life after being bullied or the woman who cried for help on Demi Moore’s Twitter page, we learn that like it or not, we may cross paths with someone who is suicidal at any point in our lives. If and when it does, we must act. People who talk about or attempt suicide are not just trying to get attention, they are in serious trouble and require help. On April 20, I will host a free Webinar open to the public on Understanding and Preventing Suicide. In this article, I will touch on some of the key points that I will further cover in the Webinar in an effort to debunk some of the myths about suicide and teach people how they can help.
Dr. Lisa Firestone, PhD, is the Director of Research and Education for The Glendon Association. Since 1987, she has been involved in clinical training and applied research in suicide and violence. In collaboration with Dr. Robert Firestone, her studies resulted in the development of the 
