Let’s Talk: Behavioral Health - Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and is a time to raise awareness and share information. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reveal important facts and information to help promote awareness, shift perceptions, and start conversations. The NIMH notes that suicide is a major public health concern, is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., and it is often preventable. NAMI offers crisis resources, toolkits, and options to start conversations. NAMI SuicidePreventionMonth

Join NAMI and NIHM to raise awareness by sharing resources that can help you recognize the warning signs of suicide and learn how to get help. Campaign date: September 1–30, 2024 Hashtags: #SuicidePreventionMonth, #SuicidePrevention, #SPM24, #BeThe1To, #shareNIMH Digital shareables: nimh.nih.gov/shareNIMH/suicideprevention

Talking with and finding help for someone that may be suicidal can be difficult. Here are some tips that may help.

• Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
• Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept thefeelings.
• Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right orwrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on thevalue of life.
• Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
• Don’t dare them to do it.
• Don’t act shocked. This will put distance between you.
• Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
• Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glibreassurance.
• Take action. Remove means, like weapons or pills.
• Get help from people or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

In honor of #SuicidePreventionMonth, a livestream event on suicide prevention in health care settings was held on Sept. 11 on NIMH’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Watch Video

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Published: Vol. 2; Issue 4; 2024 Quarter 3 Bulletin