September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Although mental health and suicide prevention are important to address year-round, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides a dedicated time for people, organizations, and communities to join their voices and share that there is hope, help is available, and healing is possible.
This year’s theme is “Creating Hope Through Action.” The aim of the theme is to raise awareness about how taking action to prevent suicide can create hope and save lives. To make change happen, we will need to take action to shift our culture from silence and stigma, to encouragement, understanding, and support. Each week we will highlight different ways to Create Hope Through Action.
Week 4 – Advocate For Change: Your Voice Matters.
Talking about mental health and suicide on a community level can help raise awareness and support of suicide prevention efforts and encourage those who need extra support to connect to services. Surrounding people and families with supportive neighborhoods, businesses, schools, faith communities, and services is a critical way to support every person. Communities that work together in an intentional and proactive way is vital to providing needed mental health and suicide prevention support and resources.
Ideas for action include: Start conversations that focus on normalizing mental health over stigma reduction. Promote help seeking and resources for those in need. Emphasize that suicide is preventable and there are actions individuals can take. Resources such as the 988 Lifeline, local mental health service providers, and crisis centers are available to assist. Learn the warning signs as well as risk, and equally important, know what is effective to protect individuals.
- Community conversations are a common thread that builds relationships. There are many ways to hold conversations within your community. Consider searching for a community education class or program near you where you can talk about mental health and suicide prevention.
- Community can be defined as a feeling of fellowship with others because of shared common interests and goals. Where do you find your community?
- Our community plays an important role in our mental health and wellbeing. What in your community supports your mental health and wellbeing?
- Every person and organization in the community has a role in normalizing conversations about mental health and suicide. To see what you can do, explore the Normalizing Conversations About Mental Health and Suicide Toolkit. Recommended actions, tools, and resources can be used to normalize conversations about mental health, prevent Minnesotans from having suicidal experiences, and improve the lives of people who are struggling.
Opportunities for action. Individuals, organizations, and communities across Minnesota play a vital role in preventing suicides. At every level, across any sector, there are opportunities that someone can take individually and collectively to prioritize suicide prevention and reduce the number of people experiencing suicidal feelings. Moving to action expands an individual’s ability to address the many layers that can reduce the risk of suicide.
Until next time, stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~