National Suicide Prevention Week
National Suicide Prevention Week kicks off on September 10th during World Suicide Prevention Day, and continues through September 16th. This week serves as a time to advocate for mental health services, remember and support those who have been effected, and rally as communities and bring awareness to the impact of suicide. With suicide rates increasing roughly 36% from 2000 to 2021, it’s becoming more important to bring awareness to mental health services and promote positive mental health behaviors than ever before. It’s also becoming increasingly important that we’re able to recognize the signs and provide the support necessary for people at risk. So, as we move forward in to next week, we ask that you take the time to take part in National Suicide Prevention Week. Keep reading to discover how you can get involved in honor of this years event.
Educate: Discover resources and learn more about the true impact of Suicide and Suicide Prevention. You can do this by visiting the following links below.
CDC Fact Sheet, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Alliance on Mental Illness
Advocate: Take what you learn from the links above and share additional resources via social media, or by word of mouth when spending time with loved ones! You can also advocate for local or national level resources like the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988. If you choose to take things a step further, don’t be afraid to reach out to public officials about funding or support for mental health services.
Connect: Spend this week connecting with local organizations or services who support mental health within your community. You can also connect by getting active, and taking part in one of many events related to National Suicide Prevention Week. Check out the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and discover a chapter near you.
Lastly, we encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 988 is a national network of local crisis centers that provides 24/7, free and confidential support to those experiencing a mental health crisis. Sharing this resource could be the difference in saving a persons life.