Suicide Prevention Month: Seek Professional Help
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. That said, suicide is something that is prevalent all year round. In the mental health community, there has been much effort given to destigmatizing the topic of suicide. It’s not been an easy feat because advocates, including myself, are constantly scrutinized by religious circles that use fear tactics to sway people from taking their own lives, while in other communities the wording used to describe the act itself is criminalized or the mentally ill person(s) is demonized as selfish.
It's no secret that we have a serious problem in this country with suicide, particularly in the BIPOC and LGTBQ+ youth communities. Since the onset of Covid and increased social isolation, the numbers are off the charts. But what’s even scarier than that is experts are at a loss for what to do about it. Therapists and social workers are overwhelmed with patients. Waiting lists to see a professional counselor can range from 8 weeks to 6 months depending on the need.
I’m not a therapist, so my analysis is only an opinion, but I believe that as a society we wait until crisis to intervene and that is simply too LATE. At this point, I’m not positive we will ever get in front of the demands placed on our mental healthcare system; however, I do think we still have an opportunity to catch up by focusing on PREVENTION. This approach would be no different from a yearly physical with your doctor. For the last several years experts and advocates alike have been saying “mental health is health.” Now, it’s time to actually stand behind that statement. Health insurance companies need to work with mental healthcare professionals to provide and pay for an annual mental health check separate from a physical with a primary care physician.
Those are the subtle shifts on a large scale that can make a difference and actually be the difference between life and death for some. Similarly, on a smaller scale, more community support groups and conversations need to happen. From barber shops to neighborhood corner stores and schools…everyone should be on board to make this happen and aid in normalizing the discussion of mental health and suicide prevention. Don’t get me wrong, conversations while in crisis can be very helpful, however; I am speaking from the vantage point of a deeply depressed person. That hole is incredibly dark, and hopelessness floods your entire being. Many times, the person in that darkness makes the decision to end things because fighting to come out of despair is just too exhausting and they are just too tired.
As I am writing this, I keep hearing the words “it takes a village.” It truly takes all hands on deck to dedicate the time, focus, energy, and resources to make a difference. COMMUNITY IS EVERYTHING and PREVENTION is the key to a better tomorrow for all of us.