A very real and growing problem

• A very real and growing problem

With so many “breaking” news reports these days, I almost missed a news report about Grayson Murray, a handsome, young, up-and-coming PGA golf pro who had an amazing life ahead of him. So what was reported?

Grayson, just 30 years old, had won two tournaments on the PGA Tour, most recently the Sony Open in Hawaii in January 2024. He had been struggling with alcohol for years, but had been sober since early 2023. He had a beautiful fiancé, great parents. He seemed to have it all.

Grayson had been open about battling mental health issues, working with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan to make the tour more helpful to players undergoing mental health struggles. He was passionate about his Christian faith, stating, “If I just help one person, that’s all it takes.” Then we learn that on May 22 Grayson took his own life. How did this happen? Why did this happen?

Suicide occurs more often than you think. Mental health issues and suicide is increasing at an alarming rate in this country. One in five U.S. adults age 18-25 (57.8 million) live with a mental illness. Serious mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression which can lead to suicide) affects 14.8 million of the U.S. population. Depression is the largest mental illness that affects 300 million of the world’s population. Many of you may know someone who has committed suicide not realizing until after the tragedy there was a mental health issue.

Anxiety is a major contributor and is escalating in our culture. There is a direct link between anxiety and opioid use. Those suffering from anxiety are two to three times more likely to have an alcohol or other substance abuse disorder. Numerous studies have related anxiety directly to suicide. Compared to those without anxiety, patients with anxiety disorder were more likely to have suicidal ideations, attempted suicides, completed suicides, or suicidal activities.

The CDC reports that more than half of the people who died by suicide did not have a known mental health condition. Factors contributing to suicide include: relationship problems; a crisis in the past or upcoming two weeks; problematic substance abuse; physical health problems; job or financial problems; criminal or legal problems; and loss of housing.

There is a direct link between anxiety and opioid use. Those suffering from anxiety are two to three times more likely to have an alcohol or other substance abuse disorder. Anxiety is linked to heart disease, chronic respiratory disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders.

Since the pandemic, over a third of Americans “show symptoms of anxiety, depression, or both.” Teens are showing alarming propensities toward suicide. Twenty percent of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide, and nearly ten percent report having attempted suicide, as of 2022.

The above statistics are just a few of the facts regarding the tragedy of suicide. If this subject is more personal for you, please know the following:

• Mental illness is treatable.

• You are not alone.

• Donotfeelashamedorhopeless.Helpisavailable.

• Gethelpfromamedicalprofessional,professional counselor, or your local Mental Health Mental Retardation office. You can get help 24 hours a day by calling the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 or visit 988lifeline. org.

I take mental health seriously because I’ve witnessed what happens to an individual and family when it is not. Just know there is hope and there is help for you.

Debby Efurd is co-founder of Cary John Efurd Ministries of Pittsburg, TX. She has been a contributor to Bound for Life and written numerous articles published in LifeNews, Christian Post and the Baptist Standard, and is the author of Go Tell It!. isit her blog, The Second Mile, at www.debbyefurd. com and contact her by email (caryjohnefurdministries@ gmail.com).

Can’t Tell You