*If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call or text 988.

Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone. Age, gender, and background don’t matter when it pertains to suicidal thoughts, much like they don’t matter when it comes to mental health conditions.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and, this year, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day.

While it’s important to discuss and educate on suicide prevention year-round, September is one month dedicated to addressing a very difficult topic.

According to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), “comments or thoughts about suicide, also known as suicidal ideation, can begin small – for example, ‘I wish I wasn’t here’ or ‘Nothing matters.’ But over time, they can become more explicit and dangerous.”

Here are some warning signs of suicide:

  • Increased alcohol and drug use
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Withdrawal from friends, family, and community
  • Dramatic mood swings
  • Impulsive or reckless behavior

NAMI states that “suicidal behaviors are a psychiatric emergency.” If you or a loved one start to take any of the below steps, seek immediate help from a healthcare provider or call 988 to reach the Suicide & Criss Lifeline:

  • Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
  • Giving away possessions
  • Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
  • Saying goodbye to friends and family

Locally, the Cambria County Suicide Prevention Task Force, which the Center for Population Health helps lead, and the Somerset County Suicide Prevention Task Force are working to provide education and prevent suicides from happening in our communities.

To find out more about the work of each task force, visit their Facebook pages:

Sources:

Risk of Suicide | NAMI