The month of September is known as Suicide Prevention Month, and although it is important to dedicate all of those who have taken their own lives, it should not just be a month-long thing, but instead a year-round thing.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 720,000 beautiful souls take their lives every year, with suicide being the third leading cause of death in the 15-29 age group. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they represent sons, daughters, friends, co-workers, neighbors who were silently struggling.
Very often, we find the conversations about mental health being pushed to the back burner until someone loses someone to suicide. But we could make a difference if we discussed it all year round. By doing this, we could check in on our loved ones more frequently, learning the warning signs and becoming more aware of our surroundings, along with ending the stigma to mental health every day.
Awareness months have very deep meanings with valuable reminders. But suicide prevention should not end the second you flip the calendar to October. Every life is worth something, every day and every year. Just know that you deserve to be here, and you are not alone.
