Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: How to Care, Connect & Support
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It is a time to remember lives lost, support those struggling, and build communities founded on hope and healing. Suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death for teens and young adults, and over 20% of teens have seriously considered it in the past year. These numbers remind us that prevention matters and you can make a difference.
Spot the Warning Signs
Where help often starts is awareness. Understanding warning signs equips us to act with compassion and care.
Common signs include:
Talking about being a burden or feeling trapped
Withdrawing from loved ones
Expressing hopelessness or intense emotional pain
Risky behaviors or drastic mood changes
Normalize Conversations & Reduce Stigma
Talking openly about mental health saves lives. Peer-led programs (like NAMI, Active Minds, Hope Squad) show that young people often trust peers first.
If you’re a teen, friend, or educator:
Use non-judgmental language: “I’m worried about you—can we talk?”
Listen without fixing or minimizing
Validate feelings: “That sounds really hard, I’m glad you told me.”
Know What to Say & Do
If someone expresses suicidal thoughts:
Ask directly: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” — direct questions don’t increase risk and show you're serious about helping.
Stay calm and listen.
Encourage professional help (therapist, school counselor) and offer to help make calls or find resources.
Share the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free 24/7 in the U.S.: call, text, or chat.
Connect & Strengthen Community Support
Peers and family: Keep checking in—even a simple “how are you?” matters.
Schools & groups: Programs like Hope Squad train youth to identify risk and support peers.
Clinicians & partnerships: Collaborative efforts with pediatricians, therapists, educators, and community groups are backed by data as the most effective prevention model.
Restrict Access to Lethal Means
Limiting access to firearms, medications, or other means is one of the simplest and most effective interventions. For example, gun locks can dramatically reduce suicide risk.
Promote Life-Affirming Resources & Resilience
Encourage help-seeking: Therapy, support groups, and mental health screenings.
Peer involvement: Youth-led initiatives improve outreach and reduce isolation.
Use community tools: Programs like Yellow Ribbon Week, More Than Sad, Talk Saves Lives, Active Minds, and Hope Squad provide workshops and peer training.
You Matter: Spread Hope, Every Day
Share your story of recovery or hope—stories reduce isolation and build connection.
Embrace hope-based messaging: “You’re not alone,” “Help is possible,” “Feelings can deepen and shift.”
Take care of yourself too. Supporting others means managing your own emotional well-being.
If you or someone you care about is struggling, reach out. You don’t need to face this alone.
If you’re in crisis or thinking about suicide:
Call or text 988 (U.S.) the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Reach out to a trusted friend or adult, parent, teacher, or counselor
Visit your nearest emergency department if you feel unsafe.
You don’t have to go through this alone.
If you're struggling with thoughts of hopelessness, overwhelm, or just don’t feel like yourself—know that help is here. At Collaborative Minds Psychotherapy, our compassionate therapists are here to listen, support, and walk alongside you in your healing journey. Whether you're a kid or teen, young adult, adult, or concerned for a loved one, we’re here to help you find clarity, connection, and hope. Reach out today to schedule a consultation—because your life matters, and you deserve to feel better.