National Suicide Prevention Month
By Kevin Lahey, LSW
Suicide and suicide prevention are often a couple topics that we, as a society, try to avoid talking about. They’re both very heavy topics to say the least, but they’re both things that we need to learn to talk about more often. September is national suicide prevention month so as far as I’m concerned, this is one of the best times to talk about both of those things.
In an effort to get right into things, let’s start by identifying some of the warning signs that we can keep an eye out for if we have concerns about friends or family. The National Institute of Mental Health has some great resources for this, but I’ll go through a couple possible signs here. Right off the bat, we can keep a look out for some things that people may be saying. Actively speaking about wanting to die or feeling like a burden to others can be a few examples that, while a bit obvious, are still important to point out. It’s also important to highlight some feelings that friends, family, or even yourself may be feeling/expressing. Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, extreme sadness and anger and even feeling like the emotional/physical pain is too much to bear. Finally, there are some behaviors I want to highlight as well. Making plans or researching ways to die is pretty obvious, but there’s a few more that might not be as obvious. If we notice someone withdrawing from friends and saying goodbyes or even giving away important items, we might want to try and reach out to help/get them connected with important resources. One last thing I want to note here is that all of these things don’t necessarily mean that someone is absolutely planning suicide, but they’re potential warning signs we can keep an eye out for.
As for what to do if we feel a loved one, or even ourselves are contemplating suicide, there are some good options. Firstly, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to friends and family (or reach out to friends and family if you need it). Oftentimes, when people feel like people are there for them despite the difficulties, that leaves them in a better place to find additional help. I’d be remiss not to mention reaching out to see a therapist, considering that that’s sort of one of the things that we’re here for. All of us here at Owens Counseling & Therapy are willing to sit down with whoever needs it to get them to a place where they feel that there are other options out there.
If you’re reading this and feel like you could use some help, please reach out. If it’s an emergency, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Life can be difficult and sometimes our brains try to make it even harder. Despite that, there are better options than suicide. Your life matters, even if you don’t feel like it does right now. Reach out to friends, family, teachers, therapists, or whoever you need to reach out to for help. Life can be hard but try to keep in mind that how you’re feeling at this very moment is a blip on the radar and we can change where we’re at with some help.
Other Helpful Hotlines:
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration (SAMSHA): “..free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Crisis Text Line: “24/7, free, confidential. A live, trained volunteer Crisis Counselor will receive your text and respond with care and compassion.”
- Text HOME to 741741
NAMI HelpLine: “..free, confidential nationwide service that provides one-on-one emotional support, mental health information and resources..”
- 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or Text NAMI to 62640
Whether you are experiencing extreme lows or suicidal ideations, worried about a friend or family member who may be, or are just ready to take the step to set yourself or a loved one up with some support in life, we are here for you!
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