Candles burn throughout a candlelit vigil to mark World Suicide Prevention Week at School Inexperienced, Dublin. | Supply: Liam McBurney – PA Pictures / Getty
UPDATED: 2:00 p.m. ET, Feb. 18, 2025
Initially printed: Sept. 10, 2021
The world woke as much as the tragic information Saturday morning that the one son of celebrated actress Regina King had died by suicide only a few days after his twenty sixth birthday and fewer than every week after his mom’s.
Ian Alexander Jr.’s loss of life was confirmed by his mom in an emotional assertion that underscored the deep bond between the 2, PEOPLE reported.
“Our household is devastated on the deepest degree by the lack of Ian,” King stated. “He’s such a vibrant mild who cared so deeply concerning the happiness of others. Our household asks for respectful consideration throughout this personal time. Thanks.”
King beforehand described her love for her son as “unconditional” and referred to as being his mom “most fulfilling.”
Alexander, a DJ who carried out underneath the title Desduné, supplied a shifting birthday tribute to King by way of an Instagram put up a bit of greater than a yr in the past that stated partially having her as a mom “is the best present I may ask for.”
The circumstances and particulars surrounding Alexander Jr.’s suicide weren’t instantly accessible.
Nonetheless, his loss of life attracts consideration to a rising pattern of Black folks taking their very own lives. Whereas total statistics level to Black folks usually having among the many lowest suicide charges, new information reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has modified these numbers for the worst.
Whether or not it’s resulting from psychological sickness, stress, emotions of hopelessness or any of the a number of different the reason why folks commit suicide, it’s one thing that impacts people from all walks of life. Hold studying to discover a checklist of notable Black individuals who have died by suicide.
Information supplied by the Suicide Prevention Useful resource Heart present that from 2010 to 2019 — the newest years statistics have been accessible for — Black folks within the U.S. had a suicide price of seven.4% per 100,000 folks. That’s in comparison with the general price of 13.2% per 100,000 folks for everyone within the U.S.
When trying on the information in line with age, Black folks have the bottom suicide charges of all age teams, from childhood on up by the mid-80s.
“Amongst Black populations, suicide charges peak throughout adolescence and younger maturity, then decline. It is a completely different sample than is seen within the total U.S. inhabitants, the place suicide charges peak in midlife,” in line with the Suicide Prevention Useful resource Heart information.
Black males have greater than double the suicide price of Black females, however every group’s price is considerably decrease than that of their white counterparts.
General, “the suicide loss of life price for males is greater than 4 instances the speed for girls in Black populations” and the “suicide loss of life price for the general U.S. inhabitants is roughly double that of Black populations for each men and women,” the Suicide Prevention Useful resource Heart discovered.
In the case of suicidal ideas and suicide makes an attempt, nonetheless, the charges for Black individuals are commensurately increased than the earlier classes. In truth, “the share of past-year suicide try was increased in Black grownup populations,” the Suicide Prevention Useful resource Heart stated.
Related numbers are according to Black high-school-aged youth, as “the next proportion of Black youth have tried suicide prior to now yr.”
However that Suicide Prevention Useful resource Heart information has been upended by the pandemic, which has despatched them taking pictures by the roof.
A latest examine analyzed a gaggle of Maryland residents in the course of the first six months of 2020. Curiously, on the top of the lockdown in the course of the Spring of 2020, researchers discovered an “total lower in suicides charges in comparison with the earlier three years,” the examine notes.
Nonetheless, investigators additionally uncovered some alarming information. Whereas suicides amongst White Marylanders decreased by 45 p.c between early March and Might, charges of suicide-related deaths amongst Black folks within the state spiked by 94 p.c throughout the identical time interval.
psychiatrist Paul Nestadt, who carried out the examine, stated he believes the virus’ disproportional impression on the Black neighborhood may have contributed to the large surge, noting that African American’s have been impacted more durable in the course of the pandemic–each when it comes to fatality and an infection charges coupled with historic numbers of unemployment.
“An infection and fatality charges are increased amongst Black folks, and we all know that there are large disparities in entry to care, together with psychological well being care,” Nestadt informed USA Information, including that the info was regarding. “It is a recipe for dangerous outcomes. When somebody is struck arduous by issues across the pandemic and so they can’t get entry to good psychological well being care, they’re in essentially the most hazard.”NewsOne has compiled a listing of suicide prevention sources.
Hold studying to discover a checklist beneath of notable Black individuals who have died by suicide, in no sure order.
Notable Black Individuals Who Died By Suicide
was initially printed on
newsone.com
1. Ian Alexander Jr.
The one son of actress Regina King, Ian Alexander died by suicide on the age of 26, simply days after he celebrated his birthday. His loss of life was reported in a single day into the early morning of Jan. 22, 2022.
2. Jas Waters, TV author
Supply:IMDB
Jas “JasFly” Waters, a tv author who penned scripts for hit reveals like “This Is Us,” died by suicide on June 9, 2020. She was simply 39 years outdated.
3. Etika, standard YouTuber
Supply:NYPD
Social media persona Etika, whose actual title is Desmond Amofah, was discovered lifeless on June 25, 2019. It was later decided that the 29-year-old died by suicide after his physique was discovered within the East River in New York Metropolis.
4. Capital Steez, rapper
Capital Steez, an up and coming New York Metropolis rapper who was already extensively critically acclaimed, died by suicide on Christmas Eve in 2012 by leaping off a constructing’s roof. He was simply 19 years outdated.
5. J.J. Johnson, trombonist
Supply:Getty
J.J. Johnson, a pioneering jazz trombonist whose profession spanned a number of many years, died by suicide on Feb. 5, 2001. He was 77 years outdated.
6. Chris Lighty, file govt
Supply:Getty
Chris Lighty, a file govt who additionally managed prime names in hip-hop music, died by suicide on Aug. 30, 2012, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 44 years outdated.
7. Jovan Belcher, NFL participant
Supply:Getty
Jovan Belcher, a star linebacker within the NFL who performed for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs died by suicide after he killed his girlfriend on Dec. 1, 2012. Belcher was 25 years outdated and his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, was 22.
8. Stephanie Adams, mannequin
Supply:Getty
Stephanie Adams, a former Playboy centerfold mannequin, died by suicide alongside along with her 7-year-old son after she jumped from a lodge window in New York Metropolis on Might 18, 2018. Adams was 46 years outdated.
9. Shakir Stewart, file govt
Supply:Getty
Shakir Stewart, an govt at famed hip-hop file label Def Jam, died by suicide on Nov. 1, 2008, after he shot himself. He was 34 years outdated.
10. Don Cornelius, host of “Soul Practice”
Supply:Getty
Don Cornelius, the founder and host of the “Soul Practice” TV dance present, died by suicide on Feb. 1, 2012, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the pinnacle. He was 75 years outdated.
11. Phyllis Hyman, singer
Supply:Getty
Phyllis Hyman, a well-liked R&B singer, died by suicide on June 30, 1995, from an obvious self-induced drug overdose on prescription tablets. She was 45 years outdated.
12. Stephen “tWitch” Boss, entertainer (dancer and DJ)
Supply:Getty
Stephen “tWitch” Boss dedicated suicide by gunshot on Dec. 13, 2024 at 40 years outdated.