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September Is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

suicide prevention month

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death among Americans and the second leading cause of death in the military.  An average of 20 veterans die by suicide each day. Unlike many other leading causes of death, suicide is preventable. Alarmingly, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the rate of suicide has spiked by 35% since 1999, and it’s still on the rise.

Ignoring this crisis won’t make it go away, yet many people view suicide as a taboo subject. That’s why National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month was created. This month-long observance is a unifying effort among mental health advocates, suicide prevention organizations, suicide attempt survivors, and people like you.

Someone once said, “The person who completes suicide, dies once. Those left behind die a thousand deaths, trying to relive those terrible moments and understand… why?”

In reality, many people have had suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives. Feeling suicidal doesn’t mean a person is weak, flawed, or beyond hope. It means they’re in more pain than they can handle alone. The good news is that there is help available.

If someone you care about is suffering from an invisible level of agony, they may not directly seek help. That’s why it’s important to know the risk factors and indicators as well as how to help and intervene. Preventing suicide isn’t just about caring. It’s about caring enough.

Risk Factors

Possible Indicators of Suicide

How to Help and Intervene

This bears repeating: No matter what you do, don’t leave that person alone.

If you’re reading this for yourself and not a loved one, hear this loud and clear:  “Place your hand over your heart. Can you feel it? That’s called purpose. You’re alive for a reason. Don’t give up.”

>> Need help right now? Call The Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, Press 1.  

They’re available 24/7/365

Additional Emergency Services:

The National Suicide Prevention/Military and Veteran Lifeline: offers free and confidential support to service members in crisis or anyone who knows a service member who is. The service is staffed by caring, qualified responders from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), many who have served in the military themselves.

Veterans Crisis Line: offers support through the crisis line, online chat, and text-messaging services for all service members (active, National Guard and Reserve) and veterans 24/7/365.

 

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