Awareness in September

Sep 6, 20212 min read

Content warning: This blog will be discussing the heavy and triggering topic of suicide. Read on at your own risk. If this topic is too heavy for you, I will leave a list of resources at the bottom of this page.

September is national Suicide Awareness month. And while I'd love to keep the focus on fun fall activities and talk about how delicious pumpkin spice is, it's so important to talk about mental health- especially with darker days around the corner.

In 2012 I lost my father to suicide. It was sudden, shocking news and I'm still working through the loss. I miss him every day and I carry plenty of regrets. Throughout all of my time in middle school and high school, I carried so many people and their struggles. I wish I had reached out to someone with more answers for them.

Let's talk about warning signs. First, you can't always tell if someone is considering suicide, and the following is just a small list of common signs. If someone is talking about suicide, withdrawing from social contact, doing risky or self-destructive things, or giving away their belongings, it may be time for them to find help.

Help looks like a trained professional like a therapist or calling a hotline number. Please, do not take this on alone. While we deeply care about our loved ones and it's hard to see them go through something so dark, it's important they get the help they need. I'll list the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at the end of this post along with other resources.

It is so important to take every sign seriously. You are not responsible for preventing someone from taking their own life, sometimes all we can do is share resources.

If you are reading this and going through a hard time, please reach out to someone. Get help, even if it's calling the hotline. Go through the resources listed below, ask your loved ones for support.

Awareness in September

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