Suicide prevention is important every single day of the year Peter.
National Suicide Prevention Month in September gives us an important opportunity to shine a special light and send a clear, hopeful message that help is available and suicide can be prevented. There are actions and information that we can spread to prevent suicide and change the lives of people, their families, and communities.
Right now, the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline is available to anyone in distress and is free and confidential. It works to prevent suicide by empowering individuals, building awareness, and providing trained crisis response.
It’s proving incredibly helpful for thousands of people across the country. Calls, texts, and chats routed to 988 reached 360,000 in August, with wait times of less than two minutes.
Now is the time to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention with actions that promote healing, help, and hope.
Resources like the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline have been important in increasing suicide prevention. Other bipartisan mental health legislation is also on the horizon with the introduction of the Mental Health Reform Reauthorization Act of 2022, which would help support mental health and substance use programs and services, including suicide prevention.
Suicide prevention doesn’t end when October begins. We must keep working to shed a special light on a topic that impacts many while creating a future without suicide.
It’s okay to not be okay. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they text HOME to 741741.
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