September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month - a month to acknowledge the struggle that millions of people around the world experience and to remember the lives lost to the public health crisis that is suicide. It's a time to advocate for suicide prevention efforts and educate on steps we can all take every day of the year. You can play a role by learning early warning signs, risk factors, and how to talk to someone about mental health.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, if someone in your life starts talking about any of the following, they may be at risk and we encourage you to seek immediate help:
- Talking about feeling empty or hopeless
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Talking about feeling trapped or that there are no solutions
- Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves
Other signs to be aware of include:
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Giving away important possessions
- Using alcohol and drugs more often
- Changing eating and sleeping habits
It's important to know that any of the previously mentioned signs should be taken very seriously. If you are questioning if a friend or family member is having suicidal thoughts, ask them. While it is not necessarily an easy question to ask, it could save their life. For those interested in learning more, please enroll in the QPR Question Persuade Refer Suicide Prevention workshop offered by Community Advocates Public Policy Institute, which explores the warning signs of suicide and how to ask the most difficult question.
If someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 or chat with 988lifeline.org.
Suicide Prevention Resources Are Available
National Suicide Prevention Week is acknowledged from September 8-14 and World Suicide Prevention Day is on Tuesday, September 10. While this day, week, and month are far from the only days we should be talking about suicide and what we can do to save more lives, these days are dedicated to raising awareness on the unfortunate prevalence of suicide.
Suicide prevention is a critical component to improving our country's and our community's mental health and overall wellbeing. Affordable mental health services and eliminating the stigma associated with seeking mental heath services are a good start. Accessibility to supplies that can prevent a suicide, such as gun locks, is another.
Among the many resources available (and shared below), Community Advocates Public Policy Institute offers VitalCog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace training. VitalCog trains organizations to proactively address the early warning signs of suicide in the workplace by educating and equipping businesses with tools to promote mental health and encourage early identification and intervention. Advocate for suicide prevention by signing up for your organization's training session today - https://ppi.communityadvocates.net/prevention/vitalcog.html
Again, if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 or chat with 988lifeline.org.
Resources:
- https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources/
- https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/observances/suicide-prevention-month
- https://www.hhs.gov/programs/prevention-and-wellness/mental-health-substance-abuse/national-strategy-suicide-prevention/index.html
- https://ppi.communityadvocates.net/prevention/vitalcog.html
- https://ppi.communityadvocates.net/prevention/question-persuade-refer-gatekeeper-training.html
- https://www.preventsuicidemke.com/suicide-prevention-and-emotional-health.html
- https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
