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Suicide Prevention

The Basics Of Suicide and How To Help Those Who Need It Most

Caroline Whitesel, Staff Writer|September 14, 2017

September. The month before Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the holiday season. Many see September as the Wednesday of the year; the year isn’t quite over, yet it hasn’t just begun. September simply sits in the middle. However, September is much more significant. It acts as Suicide Awareness month, with September 10th designated as World Suicide Prevention Day, according to NAMI, National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI is the “nation’s largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families” (NAMIhelps.org). More than 41,000 people die annually from suicide and many organizations, including NAMI, strive to better educate all on what suicide is, how to look for warning signs, and the after effects of suicide. NAMI is affiliated with every state and is located in more than 1,100 local communities, including multiple locations in Arizona, the closest one located at 2014 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nation’s leading non-profit organization exclusively for suicide awareness, explains suicide can happen to anyone at anytime; however, 7 out of every 10 suicides were committed by white males (in 2015). Also, most suicide attempts go unreported; therefore, about one million people in the U.S. each year “engage in intentionally inflicted self-harm” (afsp.org). Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, and even with almost 50,000 people dying yearly from self-inflicted injuries, suicide is still a taboo subject. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), NAMI, and other organizations are working to change this. AFSP has monthly walks, called Out Of Darkness Walks, where they invite those on college campuses or those in a community to come together to prove the difference people make when they work together, and their goal is to “change our culture’s approach on mental health”. On September 30th, an Out of Darkness Walk will be held in Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, and on December 9th, another walk will be held at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix. For more information on these walks and registration information, see AFSP’s website, afsp.donordrive.com.

People of all ages often feel alone even when surrounded by loved ones and friends; this is what the month of September strives to change. Suicide Awareness Month is dedicated to educating all on the fundamental concepts of suicide and the warning signs that a person may convey if they are thinking about committing suicide. NAMI explains how suicide acts as a coping method for those dealing with mental illnesses, most commonly depression. Furthermore, they elaborate on the warning signs. These warning signs include, but are not limited to: a person talking about being a burden, feeling trapped, experiencing unbearable pain, one talking about killing them self, increased use of drugs or alcohol, one searching for ways to kill them self, purposefully isolating them self from family and friends, or calling loved ones to say goodbye. Suicide is often joked about among teenagers; however, it is a real crisis, especially in America. If you or anyone you know needs help, or simply someone to talk to, hotlines are listed below for various needs, including a free crisis text line.

Hotlines:

Suicide: 1-800-784-8433
Bullying: 1-800-420-1479
Self harm: 1-800-DONT-CUT, 1-800-344-HELP
Eating Disorders: 1-847-831-3438
Rape and Sexual Assault: 1-800-656-4673
Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 (Suicide Hotline for LGBTQ youths)
Grief Support: 1-650-321-3438
Runaway: 1-800-843-5200, 1-800-843-5678
Depression: 1-630-482-9696
Abuse: 1-800-799-7233, 1-800-787-3224
Crisis Text Line: 741-741- text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained counselor
Anxiety: 1-310-855-4673 or 1-800-852-8336