National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

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Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to speak up if you believe someone you know is considering suicide or hurting themselves.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and September 6-12, 2020 is dedicated as Suicide Prevention Awareness Week- a time to share resources and experiences in an effort to bring awareness and to help minimize the stigma of suicide.

Silence is the most dangerous thing when it comes to suicide.

Camille Evans, LMSW

Valor Health’s Social Services Managers and Behavioral Health Consultant, Camille Evans, LMSW says “It’s important to shift the way we think and talk about suicide. Suicide is the result of untreated mental illness and crisis. When we say someone “committed suicide” it creates the image that someone has committed a crime. The reason this shift in language is important is that it supports removing stigma that can discourage someone from reaching out for help. The number one thing we can do to help someone else or yourself is to talk about it. Silence is the most dangerous thing when it comes to suicide.”

Camille says there are steps to follow to help keep you or someone you care about safe.

  1. Ask them if they are thinking about suicide or tell someone you are having suicidal thoughts.
  2. Create safe environment. Remove guns, medications and any other possible threats.
  3. Don’t be alone or don’t let them be alone.
  4. Seek help from mental health support. Call the hotline, go to a crisis center or local hospital.
  5. Follow up with them and create a support network for yourself.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to speak up if you believe someone you know is considering suicide or hurting themselves. Nationally it is estimated that someone dies of suicide every 15 minutes and Idaho is currently ranked 5th in the nation for highest rates of death by suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline (208)398-HELP(4357), theNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 or Valor Health Family Medicine at (208)365-6004.

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