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By: Liz Berland, LPC, SEP
It's the start of September and with that comes all the back to school activities and end of summer entertainment. It is also important to remember that it is Suicide Prevention Month. When the word suicide is mentioned, most people will avoid a conversation or searching out information on the subject. This comes from fear and lack of knowledge. Both of these can bring on the Flight response in a person. The Flight response occurs as an avoidance technique, but it is important to be informed and do research, especially on difficult topics such as suicide.
While seeking information can be challenging, The National Association of Mental Health is a great source (https://www.nami.org/) to utilize. It is proven that if you reach out to someone who is suicidal or having a difficult time, it can have a huge positive effect on the person. Most people in crisis want to be heard, seen and have their pain acknowledged.
Another initiative is Project Semicolon. It explains that "a semicolon is used when an author could've chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life" (Your Story Isn't Over).
Suicide has become one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. It is also the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds. Those who have lost a loved one to suicide often feel hesitant to tell others the type of loss they have experienced. There is an unfortunate stigma around hearing that someone has committed suicide, and many individuals often do not know how to react upon hearing of such a tragic event. That is why it is increasingly important to become educated on the topic of suicide. Research helps us understand what leads someone to suicide, and how we may effectively save more lives.
Fortunately a new crisis line was implemented in 2022. There is now a three-digit dialing code - 988. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress.
Locally, Chicago has a walk to raise awareness and funds for this issue in the near future.
Here is the information:
Out of the Darkness Walk
Sat, October 21, 2023 | 11:00am Start
601 W Montrose Avenue, Chicago, IL
This is sponsored by the American Prevention for Suicide Loss.
So let's shine some light and compassion on this vital issue. If you find yourself in need of extra support, please reach out to us here to schedule your initial consult session.
In support,
Liz
