What You Should Know About National Suicide Awareness Month
More than anything, the last few years have taught people that mental health is important. World events, politics, and the pandemic have brought greater awareness to the struggles many people face. Being grateful for the pandemic is not something we can say we are, however, more awareness surrounding mental health topics is definitely a good thing.
Perhaps one of the most important awareness causes out there is National Suicide Awareness Month. It is also known as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month(SPAM.) SPAM is held every September and is sponsored by the National Alliance On Mental Illness(NAMI.)
Here are a few facts about what you should know about this month.
It Starts The Conversations Needed
No matter what the topic is, mental health has long been considered a taboo subject. However, no subject is perhaps more stigmatized and off-limits for conversation than the topic of suicide.
That is one thing that this month aims to change. Not only for the stigma surrounding suicide but for the people going through dark periods of depression that can lead up to it. Suicide prevention, for many people, is even considered something you should not talk about. Part of this is due to the misconception that if you bring suicide up with someone who is depressed, it could get the idea in their head.
Promoting Of Mental Health Care
One of the greatest prevention methods of suicide is to have better access to mental health care. Unfortunately, this access to mental health care is out of reach for many people, still. National Suicide Awareness Month aims to help more people break this barrier to access and get the help that they need. By providing resources, tools, and awareness for organizations, NAMI and other sponsors aim to bring hope to many people.
It Helps To Show That Many People Are Affected By Suicide
It isn’t just the people who are going through depression or experiencing suicidal thoughts that are affected. The people in their lives are also impacted by suicide. Most people understand that. However, historically, there aren’t a lot of resources available to the family and friends who are affected by suicide. In addition to giving hope to those with depression, this month aims to provide resources to other people, as well.
Looking at all sides of the story, it helps to bring awareness and de-stigmatize suicide and depression.
Facts About Suicide
Not only is this a great month to begin the conversation surrounding suicide, but it’s a great time to look at facts about suicide, as well. There are some very surprising facts that a lot of people may not realize. All of these facts we are about to present are courtesy of the official website of NAMI.
Males make up 79% of suicide deaths.
Suicidal deaths are the 2nd leading cause of fatalities among people aged 10 to 14 and third for those aged 15-24.
Youth who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual are 4x more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual people.
Transgender adults are 9x more likely to attempt suicide.
How To Get Help With Depression And Suicidal Thoughts
If you or someone you know is experiencing this, know there is always hope. It’s hard to talk about suicide with someone you love, especially if you are considering it. Life can be really dark and hard to cope with.
There are crisis hotlines that are available 24/7 for someone to reach out to. It’s now easier than ever to reach one of these hotlines by texting or calling 988. In addition to reaching out to a hotline, contacting a therapist who is trained to deal with mental health conditions is also crucial. At Recovery Collective, we are here to support you and your loved one in any way we can, so let’s connect as soon as possible.