By Bhavini Persaud, Workshop Coordinator, NAMI-UW Madison

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Suicide is preventable. Through raising awareness, we can save lives by reaching out to others who struggle with suicidal thoughts and encourage them to seek help.

Awareness of mental health resources

It may be overwhelming for those who are struggling to find resources. By telling a friend or loved one that there are mental health resources available, they can feel reassured that they don’t have to struggle alone.

The National Suicide Prevention Line, 1800-273-8255

This suicide prevention hotline provides support for individuals who are in distress or in need of further crisis resources.

Crisis Text Line

This texting hotline provides mental health support for individuals in any crisis. Counselors are trained to de escalate a stressful situation into a calmer one.

Calling 911

If someone is dealing with an urgent or life threatening mental health emergency, you should call 911.

Common symptoms of a mental illness

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): “90% of those who died by suicide had a diagnosable mental health condition at the time of their death.” Many people who deal with suicidal thoughts may have a mental illness that is treatable. By understanding the warning signs of a mental illness, we can refer those who are struggling to seek treatment and get the care that they need.

Common signs include:

Excess worrying or fear
Feeling sad or low
Confused thinking or problems with concentrations
Extreme mood changes
Feelings of irritability or anger
Avoiding friends, loved ones and social activities
Difficulty understanding or relating to others
Changes in sleeping or energy
Changes in eating habits
Difficulty perceiving reality
Substance overuse such as alcohol or drugs
Suicidal thoughts/ideation

Ending the stigma

Barriers of stigma, lack of recognizing symptoms, or being overly self-reliant can cause individuals to not seek help. People may feel reluctant to seek help because of the fear of being judged over having a mental illness. People shouldn’t feel embarrassed because mental illness is real, and their feelings are valid.

Individuals may not be aware of their symptoms and think their situation is normal. Although, you should seek help if any of these difficulties have an interference in your daily life. In addition, individuals can seek mental health help even if they don’t have a crisis.

Some individuals prefer to be self-reliant, and they feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness. However, asking for help is a sign of strength and courage because you recognize that you need help and want to improve your mental well-being.