Shining a Light on Hope: September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, an important time to raise awareness, remove stigmas, and provide education about suicide. Having conversions around suicide is important because it reduces the stigma associated with the topic. By allowing for more open and honest conversations, individuals with suicidal ideations can feel more empowered to seek help and are less likely to feel alone.

Facts About Suicide

• Suicide is the 11^th leading cause of death in the US.
• On average in the US there are 132 suicides per day.
• In 2021, there were an estimated 1.7M suicide attempts in the US.
• Men died by suicide 3.9x more than women.

Warning Signs of Suicide

Individuals who are thinking about suicide may exhibit these warning signs, including:⁵

• Social isolation
• Giving away personal items
• Saying goodbye to people around you
• Major changes in behavior
• Sudden interest in lethal means (purchasing a gun or specific medication)

988 – Suicide Prevention Lifeline

In July of 2022, 988 was launched, which is an emergency code modeled after 911. 988 is a way for people experiencing severe emotional distress or a suicidal crisis to be connected with free and confidential emotional support. Since it’s launch in 2022, the emergency number has received almost 5 million contacts. The creation of the suicide prevention lifeline was a top priority of Health and Human Services to strengthen mental health across the country.

How You Can Help

As a coworker, parent, or friend, you are an essential part of suicide prevention. You’re likely to know details of their personal life, experience the warning signs, and be able to help them find easily accessible help and encourage follow-up care.

Together, we can remove the stigma around suicide and illuminate the issue of suicide and instill hope in our loved ones, family, and coworkers, reminding them that life is full of value and worth living. If you or a loved one are struggling with thoughts of suicide, don’t hesitate to call or text 988 to access a team of mental health professionals 24 hours a day.

Members: visit your Resource Hub to discover more resources and information about suicide.

References: https://afsp.org/suicide-statistics