Suicide is a public health crisis, it's time to speak openly.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports that in 2023, 1 person in the US took their own life every 11 minutes.
- About 12.8 million adults seriously considered suicide.
- 3.7 million made a plan.
- 1.5 million attempted suicide.
- Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10–34
Suicide is not a 4 letter word, talking and listening saves lives.
By talking openly about mental health, self harm, suicidal ideations and recognizing the warning signs, we can break the stigma that allows people to slip through the cracks. Education and awareness campaigns help people understand that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Often, a suicidal person needs to be seen, and heard. When they are recognized, there is hope, and hope is essential. When we promote resources, advertise crisis hotlines, encourage conversations and raise awareness of the devastating effects of suicide on our communities, we destigmatize and we create safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported. People need people. Raising awareness can save lives and bring hope to those who need it most.
Be the one to ask, be the one to listen, save a life.
MHA is proud to offer both safeTALK and QPR(Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention trainings given by our Associate Executive Director Sean Gerow who serves on the board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
For more information, resources and ways to take action please visit these organizations raising awareness:
988 National Suicide and Crisis Hotline
TWLOHA - To Write Love on Her Arms
“More than anything, my wish for you is this: That when your awful darkest days come, you will know you’re not alone. Pain will tell you to keep quiet, but that’s a lie. Life is fragile and we all break in different ways. I hope you know you can be honest. I hope you know that you can ask for help. Did you catch that? It is absolutely positively okay to ask for help. It simply means you’re human. Help is real and it is possible; people find it every day.”
— Jamie Tworkowski
