Mental Health Awareness Month: Talking about suicide is necessary

World Suicide Prevention Day is celebrated annually on September 10th. The entire month is dedicated to this important issue. The date was established by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The idea of dedicating the month of September to this topic began in the United States when 17-year-old Mike Emme took his own life in 1994. Since then, the month of September has been called September Yellow, or Mental Health Awareness Month. The date also represents a global commitment to raising awareness about suicide prevention.

Risk Factors

According to paho.org, suicides and suicide attempts have a domino effect that not only affects the person who commits suicide but also their families, communities, and society at large.

Risk factors associated with suicide, such as financial difficulties, job loss, abuse, mental disorders, domestic violence, substance abuse, bullying, and difficulties in accessing healthcare, have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Social stigma and lack of awareness remain the primary barriers to seeking help, underscoring the need for mental health education and anti-stigma campaigns.

In Mental Health Awareness Month, Find Ways to Help Those Considering Suicide

However, suicide can be prevented. Evidence-based suicide prevention measures include restricting access to suicide means such as firearms, pesticides, and others; access to mental health services, reducing alcohol consumption, and avoiding harmful substances. Responsible media coverage of suicides also contributes to prevention.

We all must actively participate in raising awareness of the importance of life and contribute to suicide prevention, a topic that is still seen as taboo. It’s crucial to talk about the subject so that people going through difficult and crisis moments seek help and understand that life will always be the best choice.

According to setembroamarelo.com, when a person decides to end their own life, their thoughts, feelings, and actions become very restrictive, meaning they constantly think about suicide and are unable to see other solutions to address or overcome their problems.

Learning how to help others is the best way to fight this serious issue. It’s essential that those close to someone in distress know how to identify when someone is thinking about suicide and provide active, non-judgmental listening, show availability to help, be empathetic, and, most importantly, take them to a psychiatrist. A professional will know how to handle the situation and save that patient.

All of us, including family members, friends, colleagues, educators, religious leaders, healthcare professionals, political authorities, and governments, can take measures to prevent suicide within our respective areas of influence.

And remember:

• No storm lasts forever.
• Talking about suicide does not cause suicide.
• There is a solution for everything.

If you’re feeling depressed, like everything has lost its meaning, and the world seems gray, don’t give up!

If you’re going through tough times, reach out to the Center for Valorization of Life (CVV)

Ask for help, click here! Or call 188, a 24-hour helpline (Brazil)

For chat support:

• Sunday, from 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM.
• Monday to Thursday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM.
• Friday, from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
• Saturday, from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM.

To volunteer and help with suicide prevention, sign up here.