September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to shine a light on a topic that too many people face in silence. In 2024, over 48,000 people died by suicide in the United States. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, know that help is available and that you don’t have to face this alone. And if someone in your life is struggling, you have more power to help than you might realize, sometimes it starts with simply having an honest conversation.
How to Get Help
Suicide can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or circumstance — but help is always within reach. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support 24/7. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to chat online. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Other crisis resources are also available:
- Text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line
- Veterans can dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255
- The Trevor Project supports LGBTQ+ youth in crisis — call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678
Why Mental Health Support Matters
Outside of a crisis moment, ongoing mental and behavioral health support plays a critical role in helping people manage symptoms, build healthy coping strategies, and work toward long-term wellness. It’s important to remember: suicidal ideation is not a moral failing. It’s often a symptom of an underlying mental health condition. One that, like any health condition, deserves compassionate, professional care rather than judgment.
Treatment options such as individual or group therapy, medication management, and consistent check-ins with a provider can make a meaningful difference in someone’s ability to cope and heal.
How to Help Others
This September and beyond, we’re encouraging everyone to have honest, sometimes difficult, conversations with the people they love about suicide. Research consistently shows that talking about suicide does not increase risk; silence and stigma are what allow suffering to go unseen.
Opening up a conversation can be as simple as asking, “How are you really doing?” and then genuinely listening to the answer without rushing to fix or minimize it. If someone you know is in immediate danger, don’t hesitate to contact a crisis line or emergency services. If they’re struggling but not in crisis, gently encourage them to reach out to a mental health professional and remind them that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
How We Can Help
If you or someone you love could use ongoing mental health support, reach out to Jane Pauley Community Health Center. We have behavioral health providers at every clinic, offering a full range of services including individual and group therapy, medication management, life skills counseling, and addiction recovery support. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment!
