Suicide Prevention Month: Recognizing the Signs, Starting the Conversation, and Finding Help
With September being Suicide Prevention Month, RHT wants to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind our communities that suicide is preventable and that help is available.
Talking about suicide can feel uncomfortable or frightening. We may worry about saying the wrong thing, making the situation worse, or not knowing what to do if someone tells us they are struggling. However, having an open and compassionate conversation can be an important first step toward connecting someone with support.
Suicide prevention is not only about what we do during a crisis. It is also about creating communities where people feel connected, supported, heard, and comfortable asking for help.
Knowing the Warning Signs
There is no single sign that can tell us whether someone is considering suicide. However, certain changes in behavior, mood, or communication may indicate that someone is experiencing significant emotional distress.
Some warning signs may include:
Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Saying they feel like a burden to others
Looking for ways to end their life
Increased use of alcohol or other substances
Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities they typically enjoy
It is also important to remember that experiencing a risk factor or warning sign does not mean that someone will attempt suicide. Risk is complex, and people respond to difficult circumstances in different ways.
What Can You Do If You Are Concerned About Someone?
You do not need to be a mental health professional to support someone who is struggling.
If you notice concerning changes in someone you care about, consider reaching out and asking how they are doing. Choose a private setting where you have time to listen without rushing the conversation.
You can say something as simple as:
"I've noticed that you've seemed like you're having a really difficult time lately. I care about you. How are you doing?"
If you are concerned that someone may be thinking about suicide, it is okay to ask directly.
"Are you thinking about suicide?"
Asking someone about suicide does not put the idea into their head. Instead, it can create an opportunity for someone to talk honestly about what they are experiencing and connect with appropriate support.
Try to listen without judgment. You do not have to immediately solve the person's problems or have all the answers. Sometimes, one of the most helpful things you can do is simply let someone know that they do not have to face their struggles alone.
If you believe someone is in crisis, you can also contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for guidance, even if you are calling because you are worried about someone else.
You Don't Have to Be in Immediate Crisis to Reach Out
One important misconception about 988 is that you have to be actively suicidal to use it. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available to anyone experiencing emotional distress or who simply needs someone to talk to. People may reach out about mental health concerns, substance use, relationship problems, loneliness, grief, illness, financial stress, or other difficult circumstances.
How to Contact 988
Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
You can also access online chat through the 988 Lifeline website.
The service is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Spanish-language support is also available. Veterans, service members, and their loved ones can connect with the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1.
Other Ways to Find Support
Crisis services are only one part of suicide prevention. Ongoing support can also come from:
A licensed therapist or counselor
A primary care provider or other healthcare professional
A psychiatrist or other mental health provider
Trusted family members or friends
Support groups
School counselors or student support services
Community mental health organizations
Faith or spiritual communities, when appropriate
Understanding the support systems available to you before a crisis occurs can make it easier to know where to turn when things become difficult. Creating a personal safety plan can also help someone identify warning signs, coping strategies, supportive people, professional resources, and ways to make their environment safer.
If You Are Struggling
If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide, feeling hopeless, or simply finding it difficult to keep going, please do not try to carry that experience alone.
Reach out to someone you trust. Contact a mental health professional. Call or text 988.
You do not have to wait until things become unbearable before asking for help.
There is no shame in needing support. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness—it is a step toward getting the support you deserve.
Prevention Starts with Connection
It can look like checking in on a friend. Listening without judgment. Taking someone's concerns seriously. Encouraging someone to seek professional support. Learning the warning signs. Helping someone feel connected when they feel alone.
We may not always know what someone is going through, but we can make sure the people around us know that they do not have to go through difficult moments alone.
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988.
You are not alone, and help is available.
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