LAUSR

This waveform window is dedicated to raising awareness of suicide through a discussion about a very severely abnormal EEG recorded after a suicide-attempt by helium inhalation. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports suicide is the third leading cause of death among people between the ages of 12–24 and tenth leading cause of death overall in the US. “The annual age adjusted suicide rate is 13.42 per 100,000 individuals and is now the highest in 28 years. Men die 3.53 times more often than woman, there are 132 suicides daily in the US and suicide is highest in middle aged white males” Suicide Statistics AFSP (2017). “More than 90% of suicide fatalities across all age groups had depression or another diagnosable mental illness or substance abuse disorder” Woods (2009). The problem has become so pervasive Congress enacted mental health awareness month every May and suicide prevention week the second week in September (2009).