September Is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to increase awareness, reduce stigma, share lifesaving resources, and remind people that asking for help is a sign of courage.

Suicidal thoughts can affect people from every background. They are not a personal failure, weakness, or something someone should have to manage alone. With compassionate support and appropriate treatment, hope and healing are possible.

Possible Warning Signs

Warning signs may look different from person to person. According to the National Institute of Mental Health and SAMHSA, signs that someone may need immediate support can include:

• Talking about wanting to die or making plans for suicide

• Expressing hopelessness, unbearable pain, or feeling trapped

• Saying they are a burden to others

• Withdrawing from friends, family, or usual activities

• Giving away meaningful possessions or saying goodbye

• Searching for or obtaining a way to harm themselves

• Increased use of alcohol or drugs

• Significant changes in sleeping or eating

• Acting anxious, agitated, reckless, or unusually angry

• Experiencing extreme mood changes

A sudden change from severe distress to appearing unusually calm may also warrant concern. Learn more from NIMH’s warning-sign guidance and SAMHSA’s suicide-prevention resources.

How to Support Someone

If you are concerned about someone, speak with them privately and compassionately. You can ask directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?” Asking this question does not place the idea in someone’s mind. It can create an opening for an honest and potentially lifesaving conversation.

Listen without arguing, judging, or trying to quickly fix everything. Take statements about suicide seriously. Stay with the person when possible, help reduce access to weapons or other potentially lethal items, and connect them with professional or crisis support.

The National Institute of Mental Health recommends five actions: ask, be there, help keep them safe, help them connect, and follow up. Review the five action steps.

How to Seek Help

If you are struggling, consider reaching out to a trusted friend, family member, therapist, medical provider, faith leader, or another safe person. You do not need to wait until your situation feels unbearable before seeking support.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the United States and its territories. You can:

• Call or text 988

• Use the online chat at 988lifeline.org

• Call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line

• Text 838255 for the Veterans Crisis Line

Important Crisis Disclaimer

Mind Over Matter Counseling is not an emergency or crisis-response service. Website forms, emails, portal messages, and voicemail may not be reviewed immediately and should not be used during an emergency.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, has attempted suicide, or may act on suicidal thoughts, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For immediate emotional or suicidal-crisis support, call or text 988.

You matter. Your pain deserves to be taken seriously, and support is available—even when hope feels difficult to find.