National Suicide Prevention Week is the Monday through Sunday surrounding World Suicide Prevention Day. It’s a time to share resources and stories, as well as promote suicide prevention awareness.
World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10 2021. It’s a time to remember those affected by suicide, to raise awareness, and to focus efforts on directing treatment to those who need it most.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness.
Suicide awareness
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, more than 100 people commit suicide every single day in the U.S. and there are tens of thousands of more attempts.
People are becoming increasingly comfortable talking about their mental health but the topic of suicide can still be scary to think about. Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background.
It’s time to deepen the conversation.
It’s only by learning more about what leads someone, or maybe yourself, to want to commit suicide, what resources are available, and the ways we can help, to prevent this pandemic.
We all have mental health. It’s time we take the next step.
Look for warning signs (in others and yourself)
There are many factors that can influence a person's decision to commit suicide such as:
- Depression
- Traumatic Stress
- Substance Use
- Hopelessness
- Loss or Fear of Loss
- Social Isolation
- Feeling Like a Burden to Others
- Chronic Pain and Illness
How can you help?
If you are experiencing a crisis please CALL 800-273-8255 OR TEXT TALK to 741741.
If a friend or loved one talks or behaves in a way that makes you believe they might attempt suicide, don't try to handle the situation alone. If you feel someone is a danger to themselves, it's also critical that they're not left alone.
- Offer to help the person take steps to get assistance and support. Research treatment options in your area and get help from a trained professional. Even offer to go with the person to an appointment.
- Encourage the person to communicate with you. The easiest way to let people know you're willing to talk about mental health is to be open about your own. If you've struggled with mental health or maybe you’ve seen a mental health professional in the past, let them know you've had times in your life when you’ve struggled.
- Be supportive and understanding Someone who's suicidal may bottle up feelings because they feel guilty or embarrassed. Be supportive, understanding, and express your opinions without placing blame.
- Be respectful and acknowledge the person's feelings. Don't try to talk the person out of their feelings. Someone who's suicidal is expressing real emotions but isn't thinking logically. Not respecting how the person feels can shut down communication.
You can save lives ♡
For the Gr@titude Movement, the fight to end suicide forever is YEAR ROUND.
Gr@titude is like the TOMS of sunglasses, for every pair of sunglasses you buy, we gift another pair to someone who’s lost a family member to depression or is working on their mental health. Gr@titude also sends a “Book of Hope”, a digital collection of mental health resources.
The sunglasses serve as everyday reminders that, in any situation, our reality is determined by the lens through which we view life and that, just like the sunglasses, is put here for a purpose.
Inside the arms of each pair of sunglasses are empowering quotes; “Live life through a lens of gr@titude” and “Make it a great day!”
This September, Gr@titude plans on championing teen mental health by donating empowering sunglasses. By living through a lens of gr@titude, teens are encouraged to be in a place of joy, live healthier, and be more socially connected.
“We have a quality product with a message of gratitude that people resonate with,” Gr@titude founder Daniel Hack said. “Our sunglasses spark real conversations and serve as reminders to live life through a lens of gratitude.”
Gr@titude is a movement brand for life-seekers who desire daily reminders to be in a place of joy, to live healthier and to live a life of purpose. The company’s vision is to transform communities by inspiring people throughout the world to live joy-filled lives while practicing gratitude and being fully present.
You can save lives, let people know they are not alone, and encourage people at risk to seek help.