According to the CDC, in 2022, over 49,000 people died by suicide. That equates to 1 death every 11 minutes. Even with these staggering statistics, folks are still scared to talk about this. No one is educating us on these statistics that are life changing. Why aren’t they?
September is Suicide Prevention Month and September 10th, in particular, is World Suicide Prevention day. We dedicate this time to raising awareness, spreading hope, and providing vital information to help prevent suicide. This month serves as an opportunity for individuals, communities, and organizations to join forces in addressing the complex issues surrounding mental health and suicide.Suicide impacts people of all ages, genders, sexualities, races, and cultures. No one is immune to these thoughts and behaviors. Mental health matters and this topic should be explored beyond the month of September. However, during this month, it is a more welcomed topic. People are more willing to share their stories, express their feelings and/or fears, and dive a little deeper into what suicide prevention monthly truly means to them.
Still though, suicide is and always has been a more hushed topic. Beyond September, the majority of people do not like discussing it, sharing if a loved one has gone through it, or telling people they are experiencing these thoughts. Many things could be the reason for the hesitancy surrounding this topic. Media, for one, could be a major reason. The media has created a false narrative regarding suicide and suicidal thoughts. Movies like It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2010) or books like Get Well Soon (2007) have created an inaccurate depiction of what an individual’s mental health journey may look like. Although some moments of these stories may be helpful, other moments make it seem scarier for some and/or romanticize the experience for others. These types of stories can create hesitancy sharing these thoughts with their own therapist, let alone friends and family.
Sharing and exploring thoughts of self-harm and/or suicide is so important within a therapeutic relationship. The more open a client is to sharing these thoughts with their therapist, the better help they can receive. Fear surrounding mentioning these thoughts is another reason it is a hushed topic. Many people think if they say they have had these thoughts, it automatically means they are being sent to a mental hospital program; which is not true. It is not that simple. Each therapist is trained to monitor, explore, and help decide if further steps need to be taken: and they are not always needed. Not to mention, these thoughts do not always mean inpatient programs. There are more options out there to give you the support you may need during such a difficult time. It is recommended that you share any thoughts, behaviors, and actions with your therapist that you are experiencing. Tell your therapist what you need, your fears surrounding this topic, and what you are experiencing in its entirety. Let your therapist then guide you to getting the help you deserve and need.
How can we help our loved ones? Knowing the common signs that someone may be experiencing suicidal thoughts is pivotal in helping our loved ones. Being able to understand how someone may communicate, behave, or appear to be feeling is important. These things include, but are not limited to the following:
Communicate
- Talking about killing themselves
- Having no reason to live
- Being a burden to others
- Feeling hopeless
Behave
- Visiting people to say ‘goodbye’
- Aggression
- Fatigue
- Withdrawing from things they used to enjoy
- Online searches about ways to harm themselves
- Substance abuse
- Isolating self from others
- Giving away their items
Appear to be feeling
- Depressed
- Anxious
- Shame
- Irritability
- Relief/sudden improvement
It is important to remember that just because someone you love may present these challenges: it does not mean they are suicidal. It may mean that they should be assessed by a therapist or hospital employee. Along with risk factors and signs that someone may be considering suicide, also comes protective factors that you may want to consider when providing support to yourself and/or a loved one:
- Mental Health supports
- Coping strategies
- Cultural/religious beliefs to promote positivity
- Limited access to lethal objects
Always remember that you are not alone in your journey. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately. If you are uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can chat the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org. You can also text NAMI at 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
