Over 45,000. That’s how many lives are claimed each year from suicide, which is among the leading causes of death across multiple age groups in the US.
At Big Health, we don’t take mental health lightly. Left untreated, common mental health conditions like insomnia, anxiety, and depression can lead to suicide. We know how devastating mental health conditions like these can be, both to personal life and organizations — and our mission is to help people overcome them before they worsen. We’re here to support you and your organization in fighting to prevent further loss and suffering in your populations.
Insomnia, anxiety, and depression as risk factors for suicide
As the mental health crisis continues to worsen, the prevalence of conditions like insomnia, anxiety, and depression is rising. Approximately 30% to 40% of adults in the US report symptoms of insomnia at some point in a given year, and nearly 20% of US adults have an anxiety disorder. Among youth, an estimated 8 million adolescents have had at least one depressive episode.1,2 Not everyone who has insomnia, anxiety, or depression will become suicidal, but each of these conditions can increase the risk of suicidality.
For example, short sleep and depression are independent risk factors for suicide, with depression being among the most relevant. However, depression alone does not account for the relationship between suicide and sleep, meaning not sleeping increases the risk of suicide in all adolescents, not just those with known depression. The risk of adolescents creating a suicide plan decreases by 11% per additional hour of sleep they get.
One study also found that over 70% of those reporting a lifetime history of suicide attempts had an anxiety disorder.
Between the high percentages of the US population struggling with one or more of these conditions, the link they have to suicidality, and the rising rates of suicide, it’s clear people need better access to resources that address the root cause of their mental health concerns.
The impact of poor mental health on an organization
In addition to the immense human loss, suicide and suicide attempts cost the nation nearly $70 billion in work loss and medical costs. And poor mental health alone can also take a heavy toll on organizations. Some examples include:
- Decreased productivity and presenteeism — Employees with insomnia have 3.2 more unproductive work hours per week.3
- Absenteeism — Over half of working parents report missing work or being interrupted during business hours to address their children’s mental health needs.
- Workplace and health care costs — Insomnia can cost over $20,000 in added workplace expenses per employee.1
- Development of comorbid conditions — People with anxiety are 2.7x more likely to develop costly diseases like heart disease.
Using DTx to combat mental health issues
You can lend a helping hand to your organization by providing evidence-based resources like digital therapeutics (DTx) that address the root cause of mental health conditions before they worsen.
Built based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), clinically validated DTx have been found to help people overcome some of the most common mental health conditions. CBT teaches techniques to address negative thoughts and behavior patterns, so people can learn the skills they need to cope with and manage their mental health conditions — and develop new, healthier patterns for the future. Available on-demand, DTx eliminate many access challenges people face when seeking care, like therapist shortages or stigma. DTx can be a valuable care option for anyone in your organization, regardless if they have a diagnosed mental health condition or not.
We understand topics like suicide and mental health can be difficult to address — but action is essential for change. Be a change leader for your organization and their loved ones by taking the initiative to treat common mental health conditions like insomnia, anxiety, and adolescent depression firsthand to prevent further loss.
Learn more about strategies to combat suicide in our upcoming webinar with Vita Health, the world’s first digital therapeutic for suicide, on September 27, 2023, at 2:00 pm ET. Register for the webinar here.
If you or someone in your organization is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
1. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Major Depression. 2. Racine et. al. (2021). Global Prevalence of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adolescents During COVID-19: A Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics. 3. Internal Data. (2023).
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