CSJ Recognizes National Suicide Prevention Month

Suicide is the leading cause of death in the U.S. 1 person is dying through suicide every 11 minutes! 
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In the year 2020: 

• 2.2 million people had suicide ideation
• 3.2 million people had a plan to commit suicide
• 1.2 million people attempted suicide
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Suicide prevention entails reducing risk factors that contributes to suicide and promoting  protective factors. The CDC group these factors into categories of individual, relationship,  community and societal risk and protective factors.  

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Population

Individual

Relationship

Community

Societal

Risk Factors

• Financial problems 
• Mental health (depression etc.) 
• Substance misuse  
• Legal or criminal problems 

• Social isolation 
• Bullying 
• Loss of relationships

• Community violence 
• Discrimination 
• Stress of acculturation  
• Lack of access to health care

•  Media portray of suicide 
• Easy access to lethal means
  
• Stigma of seeking help 

Protective Factors

• Reasons for living (i.e., pets) 
• Cultural identity  
• Coping skills and ability to  problem solve
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• Feeling connected to others Support from others  
• (family, friends, etc.)

• Feeling connected to social  institutions (i.e., school) 
• Physical and behavioral healthcare availability 
  

• Reduced access to lethal  means 
• Cultural or religious objections to suicide

Check out the following 5 campaigns for ways you can promote suicide prevention awareness:
1. #BeThere: Created by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, #BeThere aims to collaborate with the Action Alliance's partners to educate about safe and effective messaging for suicide prevention, the role of all Americans, provide resources, and host digital events.
2. #BeThe1To: #BeThe1To partners with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to reduce stigma and improve suicide prevention resources. Their 5-step research based actions for speaking with an individual who may be suicidal include speaking directly about suicide (ask), follow through with support (be there), enhance safety (keep them safe), improve connections with others/support services (help them connect), and provide ongoing support (follow up).
3. #ReachOut: Reach out is a campaign designed to provide support to veterans struggling with mental health and suicidal ideation. They provide resources for veterans as well as friends and family that are tailored to the individual's specific needs.
4. Take 5 to Save Lives: Take 5 to Save Lives provides you with 5 action steps you can do right now to help prevent suicide: LEARN, KNOW, DO, TALK, and SHARE. Learn about risk factors, how to find support, ways you can get involved in your community's efforts against suicide, how to safely talk about suicide, and more!
5. National American Indian/ Alaska Native Hope for Life Day: September 10th is acknowledged not only as World Suicide Prevention Day, but also Hope for Life Day to highlight the disparities in suicide between American Indian/Alaskan Natives and other racial groups as well as obtain collaboration from federal agencies to foster healing in Indigenous communities across the country.

How do you reduce stigma around suicide? Talk about it!
It’s important to normalize conversations centered around suicide in our everyday lives. United Suicide Survivors International is an organization for individuals who are experiencing current suicide ideation, families or friends who have lost loved one through suicide and those who have attempted suicide in the past. This community is a space where story telling is encouraged and is viewed as roadmap for helping others find hope.

Effective suicide prevention strategies in practice or programs:
• Identify the person at risk
• Promote help seeking behavior
• Access to mental health services
• Implement organization linkages
• Reduce access to means of suicide
• Enhance resiliency and social connectedness
Monitoring our wellbeing is crucial in maintaining the best possible version of our selves. That
is why daily self-care habits is crucial.

Here are 9 self-care activity ideas you can try out today: 
1. Be aware of repetitive negative thoughts 
2. Connect with friends, family, coworkers, peers, colleagues etc.  
3. Eating nutritious foods 
4. Sleep  
5. Exercise 
6. Regular physical health check appointments 
7. Have coping skills in place to handle stress 
8. Take time for yourself
9. Ask for help

References: 
https://www.sprc.org/resources-programs/suicide-prevention-month-ideas-action
https://theactionalliance.org
https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/factors/index.html

By Rumbidzai Mushunje