Dr. Brent Crandal joined us in-studio to discuss suicide prevention

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The purpose is to raise awareness that suicide can be prevented.

The day was organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization.

According to the WHO’s first global report on suicide prevention, more than 800-thousand people die by suicide every year.

In the United States, suicide rates have gone up 25-percent in the last 20 years.

The phone number for the National Suicide Prevention lifeline is… 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Here in San Diego Rady Children’s Hospital has launched a program to screen children who may potentially be suicidal.

Dr. Brent Crandal, child and family psychologist at Rady’s Children’s Hospital, joined us in-studio Monday for more.