That Ain't So: Debunking Top Suicide Myths

Being Mary Jane turns the spotlight on a serious hot topic.

Don’t Believe the Hype - Being Mary Jane doesn’t just tackle romantic relationships and friendships, but serious life-or-death topics as well. From Lisa’s struggles to Terrence Mitchell (played by rapper Ludacris), suicide has been front and center on the show. To help raise awareness, we are busting up some of the most popular myths — even some that Mary Jane believed herself. By Kellee Terrell (Photos: BET)

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Don’t Believe the Hype - Being Mary Jane doesn’t just tackle romantic relationships and friendships, but serious life-or-death topics as well. From Lisa’s struggles to Terrence Mitchell (played by rapper Ludacris), suicide has been front and center on the show. To help raise awareness, we are busting up some of the most popular myths — even some that Mary Jane believed herself. By Kellee Terrell (Photos: BET)

Myth: Black Women Don’t Kill Themselves - Fact: While we don’t kill ourselves at the same rates as our white female counterparts, suicide is steadily increasing among Black women ages 15-25 and a 2012 study suggests that we have a higher incidence of having suicidal thoughts due to racial and gender bias we experience. So no, this isn’t just a white person’s issue; it's ours too. (Photo: Philippe Turpin/Photononstop/Corbis)

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Myth: Black Women Don’t Kill Themselves - Fact: While we don’t kill ourselves at the same rates as our white female counterparts, suicide is steadily increasing among Black women ages 15-25 and a 2012 study suggests that we have a higher incidence of having suicidal thoughts due to racial and gender bias we experience. So no, this isn’t just a white person’s issue; it's ours too. (Photo: Philippe Turpin/Photononstop/Corbis)

Myth: People With Strong Faith Don’t Commit Suicide - Fact: Believing in God is a wonderful thing, but prayer is not a sure way to take away someone’s depression and other mental health illnesses that raise the risk of suicide. Also, there are no studies that show that having faith can reduce a person's risk of being suicidal. (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)

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Myth: People With Strong Faith Don’t Commit Suicide - Fact: Believing in God is a wonderful thing, but prayer is not a sure way to take away someone’s depression and other mental health illnesses that raise the risk of suicide. Also, there are no studies that show that having faith can reduce a person's risk of being suicidal. (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)

Trust Your Gut - Sometimes she'll do or say something that might make you shake your head or get you upset, but you let it slide (most of the time) because you don't want any drama. You don’t quite know what to do, but you know it bothers you. You can really do only two things: 1) ignore it and say nothing, or 2) say something and deal and hope everything will work out. (Photo: by © HEX/Corbis)

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Myth: Talking About Suicide May Give Someone the Idea - Fact: If you are concerned that someone in your life is contemplating suicide but you’re not sure, please do not be afraid to bring it up with them. Talking about it won’t give them the idea. It shows that you are concerned for their health and want to help them.  (Photo: HEX/Corbis)

Myth: People Who Talk About Suicide Just Want Attention - Fact: Not true. Roughly 80 percent of people who kill themselves have actually told one or more people what their intentions are. Make sure that you are paying attention. These are cries for help that shouldn’t fall on deaf ears. So if a loved one is mentioning having suicidal thoughts or “joking’” about ending it all, take it very seriously. (Photo: Neil Guegan/Corbis)

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Myth: People Who Talk About Suicide Just Want Attention - Fact: Not true. Roughly 80 percent of people who kill themselves have actually told one or more people what their intentions are. Make sure that you are paying attention. These are cries for help that shouldn’t fall on deaf ears. So if a loved one is mentioning having suicidal thoughts or “joking’” about ending it all, take it very seriously. (Photo: Neil Guegan/Corbis)

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Myth: You Can’t Prevent Suicide - Fact: Yes, not every suicide can be prevented. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. There are many signs to look out for and interventions to be made that can make a big difference as do treatments. Learn some common signs of suicide here. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Myth: You Can’t Prevent Suicide - Fact: Yes, not every suicide can be prevented. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. There are many signs to look out for and interventions to be made that can make a big difference as do treatments. Learn some common signs of suicide here. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Blend Images/Corbis)

Myth: People Who Commit Suicide Are 'Selfish' or 'Weak' - Fact: In some cases, people who commit suicide are experiencing extreme grief or experiencing a crisis. In most cases, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 90 percent of people who have killed themselves have at least one treatable mental health issue such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and/or alcohol and substance abuse. (Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

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Myth: People Who Commit Suicide Are 'Selfish' or 'Weak' - Fact: In some cases, people who commit suicide are experiencing extreme grief or experiencing a crisis. In most cases, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 90 percent of people who have killed themselves have at least one treatable mental health issue such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and/or alcohol and substance abuse. (Photo: Image Source/Corbis)

Myth: People Who Kill Themselves Are Insane - Fact: Yes mental health and illness can play a factor for some, but not for most people. Whether it’s trauma, grief or depression, most people with suicidal thoughts feel that they have fairly rational reasons to want to end their lives. (Photo: Morten Smidt/cultura/Corbis)

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Myth: People Who Kill Themselves Are Insane - Fact: Yes mental health and illness can play a factor for some, but not for most people. Whether it’s trauma, grief or depression, most people with suicidal thoughts feel that they have fairly rational reasons to want to end their lives. (Photo: Morten Smidt/cultura/Corbis)

Myth: Treatment Doesn’t Help - Fact: Yes, actually it can. For those who are suffering from mental illness and addiction issues, seeking successful treatment can make a big difference in bringing down suicidal thoughts. For those going through serious grief or a life crisis, seeking therapy can help, too. (Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

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Myth: Treatment Doesn’t Help - Fact: Yes, actually it can. For those who are suffering from mental illness and addiction issues, seeking successful treatment can make a big difference in bringing down suicidal thoughts. For those going through serious grief or a life crisis, seeking therapy can help, too. (Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Myth: Suicide Is Hereditary - Fact: Past studies say that suicide is not linked to genetics, but having a family member who has committed suicide does raise one’s risk. Experts believe this might be because families share the same emotional environment — trauma, crisis, depression, abuse, etc. — and seeing suicide around may encourage one to believe that death is the only option. (Photo: Sue Barr/Corbis)

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Myth: Suicide Is Hereditary - Fact: Past studies say that suicide is not linked to genetics, but having a family member who has committed suicide does raise one’s risk. Experts believe this might be because families share the same emotional environment — trauma, crisis, depression, abuse, etc. — and seeing suicide around may encourage one to believe that death is the only option. (Photo: Sue Barr/Corbis)

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Myth: Suicides Happen More Often During the Holidays - Fact: Contrary to popular belief, people are more likely to end their lives during the springtime and not the holidays. It's not clear why it is that way, but experts hypothesize that it could be that in the spring people interact more with others which may cause more stress at home and at work. (Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Myth: Suicide Could Never Happen to Me - Fact: Yes, you may not suffer from depression and mental health in this moment, but you could find yourself experiencing serious grief and in a serious situation that can test your emotional stability. (Photo: JPM/Image Source/Corbis)

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Myth: Suicide Could Never Happen to Me - Fact: Yes, you may not suffer from depression and mental health in this moment, but you could find yourself experiencing serious grief and in a serious situation that can test your emotional stability. (Photo: JPM/Image Source/Corbis)

Myth: Once Someone Is Suicidal, They Will Always Be Suicidal - Fact: As stated before, many suicidal thoughts and attempts can be based on a traumatic incident that has happened, and with proper treatment and care, these thoughts can pass. (Photo: Keith Berson/Corbis)

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Myth: Once Someone Is Suicidal, They Will Always Be Suicidal - Fact: As stated before, many suicidal thoughts and attempts can be based on a traumatic incident that has happened, and with proper treatment and care, these thoughts can pass. (Photo: Keith Berson/Corbis)

Myth: Most People Who Kill Themselves Leave a Note - Fact: While every Lifetime movie about suicide has a person leaving a gut-wrenching farewell note, that doesn’t happen that often in real life. According to Psychology Today, almost three-fourths of people who kill themselves don’t leave a note for their loved ones.  (Photo: 68/Ocean/Corbis)

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Myth: Most People Who Kill Themselves Leave a Note - Fact: While every Lifetime movie about suicide has a person leaving a gut-wrenching farewell note, that doesn’t happen that often in real life. According to Psychology Today, almost three-fourths of people who kill themselves don’t leave a note for their loved ones.  (Photo: 68/Ocean/Corbis)

Myth: Men Are Less Emotional, So Suicide Doesn't Impact Them - Fact: Suicide doesn’t discriminate against gender. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third cause of death among African-American males between ages 15 and 24, behind homicide and accidents. And while suicide rates among Black men are lower than their white counterparts, the rates have gone up dramatically, rising a whopping 233 percent from 1980-1995. (Photo: Grant Harder/Masterfile/Corbis)

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Myth: Men Are Less Emotional, So Suicide Doesn't Impact Them - Fact: Suicide doesn’t discriminate against gender. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third cause of death among African-American males between ages 15 and 24, behind homicide and accidents. And while suicide rates among Black men are lower than their white counterparts, the rates have gone up dramatically, rising a whopping 233 percent from 1980-1995. (Photo: Grant Harder/Masterfile/Corbis)