Starting September 4, individuals and organizations across the U.S. will engage in National Suicide Prevention Week in the lead-up to World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.
But suicide prevention doesn't matter for one day or week out of the year. Rather, it's a yearlong effort that requires patience, commitment, and—most of all—hope.
While we've more work to do, several recent developments can give us all hope for a better future. For instance, the recent transition from 1-800-273-8255 to the 988 dialing code for the U.S. National Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline.
This post details what we can do to nurture optimism in the suicide prevention movement, forging a better future for everyone.
Misunderstandings About Suicide
Many misunderstandings about suicide and suicide risk persist. Although 94 percent of Americans say they would do something to help a loved one they knew was considering suicide, only around 31 percent could identify warning signs when someone is suicidal.
Some of the gravest—yet common—misconceptions include:
· "Talking about suicide will make them think about suicide." On the contrary, talking with your loved one is actually the first vital step to subverting a crisis. In fact, around half of those who talked about suicide with someone said they felt better after the conversation—an encouraging statistic.
· "Only those with psychiatric conditions like depression attempt suicide." In reality, suicide can occur in anyone experiencing immense psychological suffering, regardless of whether or not they have a preexisting mental health condition. Drivers for suicidal despair are often due to things like a toxic environment, financial distress, physical pain and more.
· "Nonfatal attempts aren't that serious." Too frequently, we accuse survivors of seeking shallow attention or not "really" wanting to die. This is a grave error. Remember: Those who have attempted suicide once are at a higher risk of attempting again. We have everything to lose by ignoring it.
The central element here: shame. Shame over talking about suicide, shame over who suicide affects, and shame towards people who don't "successfully" end their lives (NOTE: the use of the terms “successful” or “unsuccessful” when attached to suicidal behavior demonstrates bias and is strongly discouraged, which is why it’s used here in quotes to emphasis its connection to shame).
"Shame and blame are in conflict with building an environment of trust, safety, support, and respect," posted the International Association for Suicide Prevention in the recent #ElevateTheConvo Twitter Chat.
In combatting the shame that drives hesitation, we also combat the factors that drive suicide.
Hopeful Trends in Suicide Prevention
Fortunately, it's not all bad news. One of the most encouraging signs of shifting tides is the boom of public awareness and education campaigns around mental well-being.
Moreover, many of these campaigns have involved collaboration between communities, nonprofit organizations, and even government agencies.
We've also recognized the sheer strength that storytelling can have, especially when the narratives come from suicide attempt and loss survivors. People connect far more deeply to stories than statistics. If you are interested in sharing your lived experience with story, United Suicide Survivors International offers both on-line courses and retreats. These experiences let participants explore if they are ready to share and if they are how to do so safely and effectively.
Perhaps the most hopeful trend: Empowering everyday individuals to prevent suicide.
Fostering Hope Via Action: Everyone Can Help Prevent Suicide
While big pharma and mental health systems hold massive sway over policies that influence access to and quality of resources, they're not the end-all, be-all of suicide prevention. Everyone—from family and friends to businesses and faith-based communities—can prevent suicide.
Prominent barriers to involvement include a combination of confusion over the correct way to manage suicidal feelings and perceived powerlessness in the face of such overwhelming pain. These barriers impact both the person in pain and their loved one.
For everyone to feel empowered, we must know what to do before a crisis occurs.
While we're not all qualified to provide mental health treatment, we can all become knowledgeable enough to guide loved ones to people who are.
We can also make it our mission to understand the warning signs and implement simple action steps. Campaigns like BeThe1To, Be There, Take 5 to Save Lives, and “Don’t Wait. Reach Out” (for Veterans) more clearly outline these steps.
A safety plan is often one of those vital stages. The goal of a safety plan is to outline what to do when a crisis occurs, creating a delay between suicidal intensity and action that gives time for interventions.
Additionally, we should push against the idea that what's most profitable is what's most worthwhile.
"My major concern is that preventing mental health struggles is nowhere near as profitable as treating them," says Sarah Gaer, suicide loss survivor and mental health care clinician. "I still feel that we are not doing enough upstream work as a field or society."
Role of Government
Institutions like the government still have much to offer regarding suicide prevention and risk mitigation.
These institutions can reach more people with promotional messaging for education and campaigns that inform everyday people, making everyone capable of preventing suicide.
Governments in particular can approve more funding for prevention campaigns and pass legislation. In fact, it was with the legislature's consensus and the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act that the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline switched to 988.
To maintain this momentum, local and state departments can support people in despair into properly prepared community-based crisis services. Many of these psychiatric urgent care systems are transforming the way people are supported on their darkest days. While in the past, people may have experienced restraints and isolation (in other words trauma not treatment) today, these urgent care centers strive to be more of a sanctuary than a “psych ward.” For more on the evolution of crisis care visit “Crisis Now.”
Role of Media and the Power of Collaboration
Television, radio, internet, and other media companies can emphasize the collective social factors that contribute to suicide. They're also well-equipped to introduce potential solutions to audiences.
When it comes to youth, it might be especially effective to collaborate with the social media platforms they use most:
"Collaborating with young people to create the #chatsafe guidelines and working with tech companies like Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta has been essential," says Australia’s Orygen Institute, which runs the #chatsafe campaign, helps support to young people who might be “responding to suicide-related content posted by others or for those who might want to share their own feelings and experiences with suicidal thoughts, feelings or behaviors.”
And media should always encourage participation—and leadership—from those who have experienced suicide thoughts, attempts or loss. Those with lived experience can articulate emotions, advice, and other information that those of us on the outside may not know. Inviting people with lived experience from the outset of any suicide-related project is essential – from what questions should researchers be asking to which clinical practices are helpful to how to create and post-suicide memorial for people who are bereaved. Organizations like “Roses in the Ocean” of Australia are leading the way for how to build successful collaborations among researcher, mental health providers, crisis responders and people with lived experience.
Maintaining the Momentum
Suicide doesn't only happen in September. So, while this month spurs so many of us into the cause of suicide prevention, we can't forget to dedicate ourselves to the mission during the rest of the year.
Here are a few simple actions you can take to practice suicide prevention year-round:
If you live in the United States or know people who do, plug the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or other vetted crisis resources whenever appropriate. Let people know what they can expect when they call.
Get to know your local suicide prevention and mental health promotion advocacy groups and support services. When you foster these relationships, the safety net for your community is fortified. Go “kick the tires” of your local substance use recovery treatment centers and mental health treatment providers.
Larger organizations have a part to play, but genuine connection happens on the community level. Consider starting or joining a local grassroots campaign or offering an established basic suicide prevention conversation skills or literacy training to keep up the momentum. If you decide to create public facing campaigns, be sure to follow these messaging guidelines developed by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.
Promote protective factors against suicide, including connection, access to robust behavioral health care, life skills such as problem-solving, healthy self-esteem, and a broader sense of meaning or purpose.
Resources
If you or anyone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, the resources below can help:
· National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988
· Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741)
· Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth) at 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678
In Australia, you can access the following resources:
· Lifeline Australia at 13 11 14
· Suicide Call Back Service at 1300 659 467
· Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636
· Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800
Further, you can find other suicide prevention resources at the links below:
· Suicide Postvention Guide by Active Minds
· #chatsafe global (international guidelines for suicide prevention) by the Orygen Institute
Special thanks to the countless groups and individuals who joined the August 11 #ElevateTheConvo Twitter chat. You can find the names of all the panelists and more details about the conversation here.
