Schuyler County Public Health and the Suicide Awareness for Everyone (S.A.F.E.) Coalition are asking the community to join in recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Month. In 2024, nearly 49,000 people died by suicide in the United States, but suicide is preventable. September has been designated as National Suicide Prevention Month to help bring awareness to the prevalence of suicide, and to educate on the ways we all can work to prevent suicide in our communities.

“We can all take steps to help prevent suicide in our community” said Schuyler County Public Health Director, Jill Kasprzyk. “This National Suicide Prevention Month, Public Health is partnering with S.A.F.E. to share strategies that have been proven to help support someone in crisis.”

Everyone can play a role in reducing the number of suicides. Understanding the warning signs and knowing how to approach someone who may be struggling with their mental health can save a life. There is a simple five-step approach from the #BeThe1To campaign to follow if you know someone that may be having thoughts of suicide:

1. Ask: Asking the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” shows that you are willing to speak about suicide in an open and non-judgmental way. Asking directly helps create effective dialogue.
2. Be there: Show the person who is struggling you are there for them by listening to them talk about their pain with empathy and openness.
3. Help keep them safe: If the person states they have thought about suicide, it’s important to find out if they’ve planned or thought about how they would kill themselves. If they’ve made a plan, the next step is to limit their access to their chosen method.
4. Help them connect: Helping someone who is having thoughts of suicide connect to support and resources helps them build a safety net during times of crisis. This could be connecting them to a mental health professional or community group.
5. Follow up: Checking in with someone in the days and weeks following a mental health crisis is crucial in making sure the person still feels supported and connected. Whether it’s a coffee date, a phone call, or a text, any outreach can potentially decrease the risk of a future suicide attempt.

Learn more about The Five Steps by visiting www.bethe1to.com. To learn more about S.A.F.E., or if you would like to join the coalition, visit www.SchuylerCountyNY.gov/SAFE. 

Schuyler County Public Health's mission is to protect and empower the community to be safe, healthy and prepared. Schuyler County Public Health’s vision is a connected community of healthy people and safe places. For more information, visit Schuyler County Public Health online at www.schuylercounty.us/publichealth or follow Schuyler County Public Health on Facebook and Instagram.