Suicide Prevention: Warning Signs and How to Get Help

Key takeaways

• 988 Lifeline Offers Support at Your Fingertips

• Light a Candle

• Light a Candle

• Minnesota’s Crisis Connection

• Let’s Talk About Suicide – and Prevention

• World Suicide Prevention Day 2020

988 Lifeline Offers Support at Your Fingertips

Earlier this year, a new three-digit dialing code took effect, making it easier to reach out for mental health help. As the new number for suicide prevention, the 988 Lifeline offers support at your fingertips via call, text, or chat. Your friends at MHCS wants to highlight this resource and its vital function in the journey toward healing.

The previous number — 800-273-8255 — is also still active and accessible for anyone struggling with emotional turmoil. In addition, veterans who need support can dial 988 and then select 1 to reach the Veteran Crisis Line . Veterans may also continue to text 838255.

Light a Candle

Kay Redfield Jamison is Professor of Psychiatry at the John Hopkins School of Medicine and one of the foremost authorities on manic-depressive illness. She wrote An Unquiet Mind , which is a memoir about her own struggle with depression, as well as Night Falls Fast , which addresses suicide. Dr Jamison writes from a personal and professional understanding of depression and suicide. At twenty-eight years old, she attempted suicide.

The statistics can be easily found. Understanding suicide means understanding the mind behind the suicide. With understanding we can recognize and attempt to aid those at rise but also try to understand the profound effects on those left. Dr Jamison writes: “For some, suicide is a sudden act. For others, it is a long considered decision based on cumulative despair or dire circumstance. And for many, it is both: a brash moment of action taken during a span of settled and suicidal hopelessness. ( Night Falls Fast , Jamison.) There is no clear way to predict a behavior that can be both deliberate and impulsive.

Light a Candle - Minnesota’s Crisis Connection

Two separate headlines in the Star Tribune within 3 days of each other pointed out the mental health crisis here in Minnesota. It echoes the larger issue of the mental illness crisis currently in our country.

The July 10th issue of the Star Tribune had an article: “Minnesota mental health crisis hot line closing Friday.” The July 14th edition of the paper reversed the news. “Crisis Connection hotline rescued, at least temporarily.”

Let’s Talk About Suicide – and Prevention

Some topics are difficult to discuss. Often the magnitude of those tougher issues resonates deeper, so they should be examined. And because September is National Suicide Prevention Month, MHCS thought it would be an ideal time to call attention to this struggle as well as the opportunities for support. Let’s talk about suicide – and prevention. We want to open the door and bring this discussion into the light.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention , suicide is the second leading cause of death among ages 10 – 34 and overall is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2020

For nearly two decades, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) has held World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. This day is meant to remind each one of us that we have the ability to make a difference in someone else’s life. We have the power to reach out and help someone in need of friendship, support, or suicide help.

What is important about this day is it is an invitation to reflect, understand the complexity of suicide, remember those we have lost, and find support and educational resources to help us answer important questions.

If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, call or text 988 in the U.S. or call emergency services.

When to reach out

If symptoms are affecting relationships, work, school, sleep, or daily routines, professional support can help you sort through what is happening and choose a realistic next step.

MHCS provides therapy and mental health support for individuals, couples, families, teens, and adults.