September 10th is National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day. Every year, on this day, we honor those we have lost, and work toward helping those who suffer from suicidal thoughts. Suicide is at a thirty year high in the United States, and we’ve lost countless friends, brothers, sisters, and colleagues to the silent killer. For some reason, the United States has formed a negative stigma around suicide, depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. Each year, on Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day, we attempt to break down this stigma, and get people to start conversations on their communities that can make people suffering feel like their communities are a safe place. Here are some things you can do this year, every year, and throughout every year to help spread awareness and hope in your community. Â
Check out To Write Love On Her Arms!
TWLOHA is a non-profit organization that looks to help those suffering from depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, self-harm, addiction, and other mental illnesses find the help they need, while spreading messages of hope. Founder, Jamie Tworkowski, has now written a book, “If You Feel Too Much” and they’ve released a movie, starring Chad Michael Murray (From One Tree Hill!), about the formation of their foundation. Each year TWLOHA raises money, starting in late August, for National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Day. They also have daily blog posts that share survivor’s stories of hope and help. Their store can also be found on their website, twloha.com, where they sell shirts, hats, and other accessories with their most popular messages on them. Each year TWLOHA has a campaign specifically for suicide awareness day, this year’s being “And So I Kept Living,” inspiring survivors to share their stories, and remind those suffering that it can all be okay.
Start A Conversation in Your Community!
As simple as it may seem, starting a conversation in your community about suicide can really help. Share articles from popular sites such as Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, or even Humans of New York on your Facebook and Twitter pages. The more it shows up in front of someone, the more likely someone is to read, learn, and understand. You can also start a conversation by purchasing clothing from TWLOHA, where the messages of hope on the shirts start a conversation all in their own. This year I purchased their Suicide Awareness pack, which gave me mini posters to hang in my community, a shirt, a bracelet, and pamphlets on how to help people find help.
Live for Tomorrow Photo Challenge!
Live for Tomorrow is a mental health organization based out of New Zealand that spreads messages of hope to young adults and teenagers suffering. Every year, starting on September 1st, they have a ten day photo challenge on Instagram to raise awareness for Suicide. Each day they challenge you to post a photo based around reasons to keep living, and reasons life gets better. Some this year were “I am Grateful for,” “Advice to my Younger Self,” People You Can’t Do Life Without,” and “Adventure Time.”
Be Open and Lend a Helping Hand!
The most important and easiest thing you can do, is be there for someone when they’re hurting. Remind your family and friends about how much they matter to you, because not all those suffering will be open about their pain. By doing the right thing for those you care about, and being a good person, you can truly the reason someone turns onto the positive side of a day. People need other people in their lives, especially when their heads aren’t thinking straight, as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder all tend to do. Lead those suffering toward counseling, toward better things, toward the help they need. Because you can be the change you want to see in the world, as long as you fight for the change. Fight to change the stigma around mental health, and stand up for those suffering. Whether it be on September 10th, or any day throughout the year. Any help makes a difference.