More on Preventing Suicide

This week in the United States is National Suicide Prevention Week, so I’m doing my part to help prevent suicide by offering this blog post. I hope it helps you learn something new about suicide. Maybe the more we all know, the fewer suicides will occur.

Last summer I wrote a blog post about preventing suicide. At that time, four people I had connections to had died of suicide. Now, that number is five. Last month, I learned that a member of my extended family had recently died of suicide. Her husband, my second cousin, died of a brain infection ten months prior. His death is what prompted me to post my PSA on estate planning. Together, they left behind a toddler-aged son. She also had a teenaged son from a previous relationship. These children are now living with other family members.

As I wrote last summer, should you find yourself having thoughts of suicide, please reach out to support services for help. If you live in the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Some people have criticized 988 for contacting the police as a last resort if callers with suicidal intentions don’t cooperate with a frontline responder on creating a plan of care. If you’re worried that police might be contacted or that you might be sent to the hospital without your consent, there are other hotlines you can call. Some of them are listed in a helpful article published by NPR.

If you’re not in a crisis situation and don’t think you need to get in touch with a hotline but feel you might benefit from other types of resources designed to prevent suicide, I recommend the website of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). I wrote about this organization previously when the COVID-19 pandemic was in its early stages, as they had provided a great summary of coping strategies for taking care of ourselves in times of stress. If you have any concerns about your own mental health, please check out their website.

Did you know? Asking someone directly if they are thinking of suicide will not make them suicidal and can actually help. (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

 

Maybe you aren’t dealing with thoughts of suicide but know someone else who is. Or maybe you’ve lost a loved one to suicide. The AFSP website also provides resources for you in its “I’ve lost someone” and its “I’m worried about someone” sections listed under the “Get Help” heading. Suicide can be hard to talk about because of its history of being a stigmatized way to die. Breaking that stigma by speaking openly and honestly about a circumstance that has affected millions of people can be of utmost importance in helping those with mental health concerns or those who love them. Please don’t suffer silently when help is available.