September was named suicide awareness month in 2008.
This month is dedicated to educating people on the reality of suicide. We cannot help those around us if we are too afraid to say the word. This is a time to speak out about experiences, raise awareness, connect with loved ones, reach out for help and show its okay to ask for help!
The suicide rates have gone up due to many different reasons, the political state of the world, the mental health epidemic, bullying, racism, financial issues, substance abse, addiction, poor health, lack of gender affirming care, ect.
It has been estimated that one person dies by suicide every 11 minuites. That is one person, one mother, sister, daughter, son, husband, father ,wife, child, partner, human being every 11 minutes.
Many things can heighten the risk of suicide such as: financial state, mental health, family environment, school, substance abuse, friendships, relationships, abuse, health issues, religious conflict, identity, lack of acceptance, sexuality, lack of gender affirming care and more. Everyone experiences hard times and everyone deserves for those around them to show them care.
What are the warning signs?
The warning signs can range from blaring and bright to subtle and under the radar. Watch out for your family and friends giving away personal possessions, talking about death and dying, changes in sleep or appetite, speaking about having no hope or a plan to die, saying goodbyes, talking as though they won’t be there for much longer, ignoring plans for the future, and even writing goodbye letters.
If someone is struggling with depression or suicidal ideation they may self harm, over use substances even when it is out of character for them, take big risks, be impulsive, make choices that are uncharacteristically self destructive and lash out at those around them.
Take notice of these changes, pay attention to what the people in your life are like, usually outside of the struggles they are experiencing. Check in, talk to them, see how they are doing and bring up your concerns. It is important when checking in on a friend to erase judgement, even if they have been making uncharacteristically-potentially reckless or stupid choices- they need a space void of judgment, a safe space so they can get the help they need. Someone who is struggling with mental health may have drastic changes to their socialization, from being an extrovert who loves people to hardly ever leaving there room. They may struggle with basic hygiene and organization. Their grades may plummet and they may sleep all the time or never be sleeping. Some may experience drastic changes in their appetite, such as eating too much or too little. When in environments with substances they may overuse, getting uncharacteristically drunk or self destructive.
Some ways a suicidal person may show their struggling is by crying out for help through self destructive dependencies, such as, becoming hypersexual, overuse of substances, ignoring there school work, causing fights and arguments, pushing away from people they love, not eating, kissing or having sex with multiple people, as well as physical forms of self harm. Self harm, mental illness and self destruction can show themselves in many different ways so its important to stay educated and aware.
One of the most high risk groups of people for suicide is men. This is due to the stigmatization of men’s mental health and how men have been socialized to view needing help, much less help with emotions as “weak” a blatantly untrue statement that many different organizations are working on destigmatizing.
One of the first steps to help decrease suicide rates is to destigmatize mental health and make sure everyone is made aware of the resorses that are available to them.Its also important to remain supportive of those around you, especially when they have been going through things. Be aware if your loved one has said things that set off red flags such as alarm bells about their partner being abusive or having sexually assaulted them, statements about not wanting to exist, drastic changes in their finances, appetite, sleep and personality, and physical health. There are resorces, from CNU Police Department to the 988 suicide hotline. Judgment, disappointment, and cruelty is not what a person struggling needs. They need compassion, support and understanding.
The world would NOT be better without you. It thrives with you. Your existence in this world is unique and beautiful and perfect just the way it is.
There are resources out there.
Therapy, counseling and medication. It is not weak to ask for help.
