National Suicide Prevention Week

This week is National Suicide Prevention Week. Suicide affects most of us. Most of us will lose someone or know someone who takes their own life or attempts to take their own life. The good news is that in 2019 there was a small decline in the number of suicides after notable increase over the previous ten years. To continue the decreasing rate of suicide, we need to continue to talk about mental health and the impact it has on our lives. 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there is help available. You can contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255. Know that you are not alone.

This year the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is encouraging people to “be the 1 to ask.” #BeThe1ToAsk. If you know someone in emotional pain, ask them questions. Are you thinking about killing yourself? How do you hurt? How can I help? Start the conversation. Listen.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has provided the following action plan to help those facing  mental health issues:

1. Ask – Do not ever promise not to keep their thoughts a secret. Listen. Take their words seriously. Focus on their reasons to live. Do not make it about you.
2. Be there – Physically present, on the phone or anyway that matters to them. Follow through on support. If you say you will meet them, be there. Do not agree to anything you cannot do. Ask them who else might be able to help and be there physically. Listen.
3. Keep them safe – Have they done anything to try and kill themselves before talking to you? (Do they need emergency help?) Do they know how they would kill themselves? Do they have a plan? Timing? Access?
4. Help them connect – Call Lifeline 800-273-Talk. Ask if they want to call their therapist. Develop a safety plan that includes a list of people to contact in a crisis.
5. Follow up – Call, leave a message, send a text. Check in with them. See if they need something.

For more information, see www.bethe1to.com. The Lifeline can provide assistance if you are dealing with someone in crisis and you don’t know what to do. Get them on the line and they can help. The same is true for the Veterans Crisis line. They can help evaluate a situation and work to get the Veteran help. Just know, there is help out there.