If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, help is available now. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
There’s something we often don’t talk about when we talk about mental health—suicide. Perhaps we avoid the topic with the best of intentions, but research suggests that talking about suicide is an effective preventative measure. September is Suicide Prevention Month, so if you or someone you love is exhibiting risk factors for suicide, now is the right time to start the conversation.
Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide across almost all demographics. In the United States in 2022, 1.6 million people attempted suicide and nearly 50,000 people died from it. People experiencing suicidality often don’t talk about it for fear of being treated differently by their loved ones and medical providers or being hospitalized against their will, among other reasons. Similarly, many people don’t ask their loved ones if they are considering suicide for fear of “putting the idea in their head.”
But there’s good news, too. In that same 2022 study, more Americans reported believing suicide is preventable and believing they could help someone considering suicide, especially if they had more training. Suicide Prevention Month, as well as 988 Day on 9/8 and World Suicide Prevention Day on 9/10, is a valuable opportunity to learn more about supporting someone experiencing suicidality. Education is critical to prevention—it can empower us and can give us the confidence to ask someone we love, “Are you okay?”
Thanks to organizations like NAMI, SAMHSA, and NIH, you don’t have to scour scholarly journals to learn about preventing suicide. Below, we’ve included some introductory resources:
- #BeThe1To campaign’s five action steps to talk to someone who may be experiencing suicidality
- Suicide prevention fact sheet
- Warning signs for youth and adults
- Stories of hope and recovery
- Facing Suicide on PBS
Most people who attempt suicide are also experiencing mental illness or substance use issues. As we advocate for increased access to care and a more diverse approach to mental health and addiction care, we are also working to prevent suicide.
Another powerful way to combat the epidemic of suicide is by nurturing hope. At Spring Lake Ranch, hope is woven into everything we do. When we plant a seed in the garden, that’s hope. When we replace a broken stair, celebrate a successful maple syrup season with our community, or help a newborn calf into the world, that’s hope. It is our deepest belief that anyone can find meaning and purpose through work, a connection to the land, and a connection to each other. To us, that is the most powerful statement of hope.
