In 2022, nearly 49,476 people in the U.S. died by suicide — an average of one person every 11 minutes — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10–14 and the 12th leading cause of death overall in the U.S. And for every suicide death, the CDC says, 275 people seriously entertained thoughts of suicide.
Thoughts and actions are two different things, and suicidal thoughts do not have to become reality. As a Mental Health First Aider, you can use your valuable knowledge of how to recognize and respond to the signs and symptoms of suicidal thinking to help someone in need get the timely care they deserve.
At the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, our goal is to make mental wellbeing, including recovery from substance use challenges, a reality for everyone. That’s why we’re observing National Suicide Prevention Month this September, an annual observance aimed at raising awareness, spreading hope and sharing vital resources among people affected by suicide. Reach out to the following resources to help yourself or someone in your life.
Suicide is preventable, and together, we can make mental wellbeing a reality for everyone. Thank you for choosing to #BeTheDifference.