There are so many things you can do to help during, after, and before suicide prevention month.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide call the suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Check-in on your friends: Especially during the pandemic, people can have extra stressors when trying to go through their everyday lives. Make sure to check in on your friends and family to find out how they are really doing. People don’t always advertise what they are going through.
Be There: If you do have a friend or a family who is struggling with depression be there for them. Support can look different for many people so do what they need you to do. Ask them what you can do to help, whether that is to listen, give advice, or distract them.
Keep Them Safe: If you have the power to, take away any means that they could harm themselves. And remember that you don’t have to do it alone. If you feel that they are in immediate danger call or get help from someone you trust and/or call the hotline.
Help Them Stay Connected: There are so many people and resources to help them. You can help by reaching out or helping them reach out to friends and family and places for them to get help. When depressed you can feel alone so you can try to help them feel connected and not alone.
Follow-Up: Even if your friend or a family member has gotten better keep checking up on them because you never know if or when they can get suicidal thoughts again. Let them know that you will always be there for them and that they are never alone.
Educate: One of the best ways to help prevent suicide is to educate yourself and others. If everyone is well prepared to help someone who is thinking about suicide we can prevent more deaths. Do some reading and talking with experts to know how to handle things.
Post things on social media: Today social media is the best and fastest way to get messages out. You never know if someone that is seeing your posts is thinking about suicide or knows someone who is. Make information accessible to people so that everyone can learn what they can do for themselves or others.
Depression and suicidal thoughts are not something to be ashamed of, if you are someone you know are experiencing these get help. The world is a better place with you in it.
September 10th is National Suicide Prevention Day and September 6th to September 12th is National Suicide Prevention Week
To learn more go to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/