This Suicide Prevention Month, Start the Conversation

September is Suicide Prevention Month. This week, in particular, is National Suicide Prevention Week. While suicide remains a highly stigmatized topic, several organizations work diligently to increase awareness about this leading cause of death. Still, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14, the 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 15-24, and the 12th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.
• 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition—but research suggests that 90% may have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition.

If you’ve lost someone to suicide, you know all too well how it impacts lives. Beyond the grief of a life lost, feelings of confusion, guilt, and regret may arise. You wonder if there was anything you could have said or done differently to prevent the suicide from happening.  

Years ago, I worked at a large organization where employees were scattered around the globe. I can recall starting work on a project with a group of people and not noticing anything out of the ordinary about any of my coworkers. Everyone seemed cheerful enough, hard-working, and easy to get along with. 

Then, shortly after we had our initial team meeting, I received word that one of our coworkers had died suddenly. My mind searched for answers: maybe it was a motorcycle accident, maybe they were ill and I didn’t know it, maybe.

After some time, we received a note that the person’s family would be raising money in their memory for suicide awareness and prevention. We had lost our cheerful, hard-working, easy to get along with coworker to suicide. 

While I know I cannot begin to know or understand the pain this person was in to lead to this outcome, what I do know is that I asked myself over and over again if I could have done anything to prevent it. Reached out to say hello, sent a note of appreciation, or any small thing. 

The problem is, by then it was too late. Even though I had just met the person, I still felt like I could have done something.

Action Can Be Taken to Help Prevent Suicide

If you, like many of us, aren’t sure what you can do to prevent suicide, the International Association for Suicide Prevention offers specific action items. They encourage you to:

• Check in with loved ones.
• Stay informed.
• Share your story.
• Advocate for mental health awareness.

In cases where you are concerned about someone and think they may be thinking about suicide, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) offers the following guidance for what to do.

Additional guidance from the AFSP includes the following:

• Assume you’re the only one who will reach out to have this conversation with them. 
• Show understanding and take the person’s concerns seriously while listening calmly and without judgment. 
• Let them know their life matters to you. 
• Know that even that one conversation could save a life.

If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, immediate help is available. You matter—to more people than you may even realize. Call, text, or chat 988 to speak to a trained crisis counselor offering support 24/7/365.