September is Suicide Prevention Month — and perfect time to learn signs, symptoms

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Every 11 minutes, a person dies by suicide. In 2020, 45,979 individuals took their own life. Almost as many people who live in the city of Maricopa felt they had no other option than take their own life to end their pain and suffering.

In the same year, 12.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million adults made a plan, and 1.2 million adults attempted suicide, according to the CDC. For every suicide death, 275 people seriously considered suicide, 27 self-reported attempts, eight people visited an emergency department and four were hospitalized.

We must be more aware of the signs and symptoms. We must intervene and offer help and support. We must provide those individuals and everyone else with proper resources, so they don’t feel their only option left is to end their life.

If you recognize someone struggling with depression or any of the other risk factors, here are some ways to support them:

  • Actively listen to them, without any judgment or strategies to “fix it.”
  • Be understanding, patient and sincere in your words and approach.
  • Ask them what typically helps when feeling this way.
  • Provide compassionate reassurance.
  • Do not try to help them with the use of drugs or alcohol.
  • Remember a person doesn’t simply “snap out of it.”
  • Help them locate professional help.

If you are suffering, know you are not alone. There is help available and people who care and want to support you.

 

Brianna Reinhold is a licensed professional counselor and owner/clinical director of Northern Lights Therapy.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline dial 988 or 800-273-TALK (8255).

This sponsored content was first published in the September edition of InMaricopa magazine.