September is National Suicide Prevention Month and having an understanding of it can help you save a life.
If you encounter someone exhibiting signs of suicide or considering suicide, it may feel confusing and you may not know what to do. Education and awareness can help you ask the right questions and provide resources to help others in crisis. Our goal is to continue changing the conversation around suicide in our communities.
Learning some risk factors to look for can help you become more aware of what to do when presented with a situation where someone is contemplating suicide. Those risk factors can include:
Mental and alcohol disorders
Previous suicide attempts
Lack of social support and sense of isolation
Lack of healthcare, especially mental health and substance abuse treatment
Hopelessness
Oftentimes, warning signs are exhibited that require immediate action and intervention. Although warning signs vary from person to person, some warning signs can include:
Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Withdrawing or isolating themselves
Talking about being a burden to others
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
If you know someone contemplating suicide or has expressed that they’re having suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide Lifeline by dialing 988.
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