Suicidal Nation - Suicidal World

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the shocking statistic that the suicide rate in the U.S. is up by 25% compared with 1999. That announcement was emphasized by the suicides of two high-profile celebrities, Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Why is it that so many of our fellow-citizens are in such a hopeless state of mind that they would actually take the action of murdering themselves? Is there anything that can be done? How should we as Christians approach this growing epidemic?