National Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention month.

It’s is intended to highlight efforts at suicide prevention and reduce the stigma around talking about suicide, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), suicide remains the 11th leading cause of death in the US and the number of suicide deaths continue to rise. Suicidal individuals are not attention seek, at least not in a negative sense. Suicidal thoughts, actions and attempts are most certainly cries for help. We need to pay attention to the pain these individuals are in that feels so unbearable that suicide seems like the only solution.

Suicide is about unendurable pain and often about disconnect and lack of community.

Only in a society in which we truly love and value all of our members and ensure that they have the resources and supports that they need can we reduce suicide. Suicide prevention is:

 Making healthcare more accessible & affordable Making a living wage & having safe, affordable housing Drug and alcohol treatment Living in a society that values all its members Gender affirming medical care Using the chosen name and pronouns of gender diverse minors Family and faith community acceptance of LGBTQIA+ members Living in a society that does not debate your right to exist 

If you struggle with thoughts of suicide, you are not alone, and help is available.