No Judgment. Just Help: What You Can Do to Support Suicide Prevention Month Efforts

Ask almost anyone about suicide, and you’ll likely find they have been personally impacted by the loss – or near loss – of a loved one. It’s perhaps not surprising given the statistics. In 2022 alone, more than 49,000 people in the United States died by suicide, the highest number ever recorded (PDF | 440 KB) in this country. That means one death every 11 minutes. And sadly, there are millions more Americans who considered or attempted suicide.

Suicide prevention month

Experiencing a suicidal crisis or losing a loved one to suicide can take a toll on families, friends, caregivers, and communities. And while this urgent public health issue affects all ages and generations, it has been particularly devastating for young people, who have reported increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions in recent years. It’s important to note that mental health conditions alone do not mean a youth will experience suicidal thoughts. Instead, a range of risk and protective factors – at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels – can influence suicide risk.

September marks Suicide Prevention Month – a time to remember the lives lost to suicide, acknowledge the millions more who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and the many individuals, families and communities that have been impacted by suicide. It’s also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope. It is a time to embrace the message: “No Judgment. Just Help.”

The State of Youth Suicide

There has never been a more critical time to focus on suicide prevention among teens and young adults. According to recently published SAMHSA data (PDF | 2.6 MB), youth ages 12-17 and young adults ages 18-25 have the highest rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts across age groups. CDC data (PDF | 3.6 MB), meanwhile, reveals that in 2023, 4 in 10 high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

There are disparities in these trends, with disproportionate rates among some racial and ethnic minority groups and LGBTQI+ populations. For example, between 2018 and 2021, suicide rates rapidly increased (PDF | 13.4 MB) nearly 37 percent among Black youth ages 10-24. We know that social and environmental factors can be major drivers of these disparities; groups that have been historically marginalized face unique challenges, and it’s critical to understand these factors to develop effective strategies and interventions.

Community-based prevention, strengthened treatment and crisis services, accessible and timely data, and health equity are key pillars in the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (PDF | 13.4 MB) and first-ever Federal Action Plan (PDF | 8.3 MB) released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services earlier this year to guide the nation’s suicide prevention efforts over the next decade. Among the goals outlined within the strategy: the creation of an equitable and diverse suicide prevention workforce to address the needs of the communities they serve, as well as a focus on upstream suicide prevention that addresses social determinants of health and emphasizes effective youth-, peer-, and community-run interventions.

SAMHSA’s Commitment to Suicide Prevention Efforts

SAMHSA is committed to efforts to address suicide – enhancing access to suicide prevention and mental health services is one of our strategic priorities (PDF | 2.3 MB), and underpins much of the work that we do. This includes reducing barriers to quality care for underserved communities.

Accordingly, SAMHSA supports a comprehensive portfolio of suicide prevention programs and resources, including the Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Youth Suicide Prevention, GLS Campus Suicide Prevention, and Zero Suicide grant programs, and the SAMHSA-funded Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), which provides information and resources—such as a Best Practices Registry, online library, and online trainings—for individuals, healthcare systems, workplaces, and others to help them address suicide. Another SAMHSA grant program – Native Connections – helps American Indian and Alaska Native communities address the behavioral health needs of youth, including efforts to reduce suicidal behavior and substance use among Native youth and young adults up to age 24.

In response to concerns about the increase in suicide rates among Black youth, SAMHSA created a Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative in 2022 to help develop and implement prevention strategies. Subsequent activities include the convening of two policy academies, one in 2023 and the other in 2024, which brought together a total of 16 state teams with the goal to create state-specific plans to implement policies and strategies to reduce Black youth suicide in their communities.

The historic investments in SAMHSA’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline are also a central part of our suicide prevention strategy and are helping to reach at-risk populations. The 988 Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. In the past two years, trained 988 Lifeline counselors have answered more than 10 million calls, texts, and chats. There are also specialized services for Veterans (through the Veterans Crisis Line) as well as for LGBTQI+ youth and young adults.

Because we know that establishing a foundation for good mental health early on can support a person’s overall health and well-being over a lifetime, SAMHSA funds a number of youth and early childhood mental health programs to help set kids on positive mental health path. With these and many other efforts, we are hopeful that people who are at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors will be able to access the evidence-based support and services they need.

What You Can Do to Help Prevent Suicide

Suicide is preventable. And it’s important to reinforce that help is available and recovery is possible. This Suicide Prevention Month, and throughout the year, we encourage you to join the dialogue and help raise awareness about the importance of suicide prevention. This might entail educating yourself or others about the warning signs of suicide, seeking help for a loved one displaying signs of distress, or just providing support to someone who might need it. For example, just like you might drop off a casserole to help someone going through cancer treatment, consider a similar act of kindness to support someone who has attempted suicide or who has expressed suicidal thoughts. Showing empathy and being there for someone at a time of crisis, can make a significant – and even lifesaving – difference.

If you are a parent or caregiver or teacher or coach worried about a youth who might be at risk for suicide, don’t be afraid to start a conversation with them. It’s important to ask how they’re feeling, and if they have concerns. You can start by simply asking: “Are you okay?” Listen intently and without judgment – and offer validation and support. If you are worried, ask the individual directly about suicide. It will not increase their risk or plant the idea. Instead, it will create an opportunity to offer support, and let them know you care enough to have the conversation. For more information, the Jed Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention* both provide conversation tips on how to talk to someone who may be thinking about suicide.

SAMHSA has resources aimed at helping parents and caregivers speak to youth, while SPRC offers tools that address how schools and educators can play a role in keeping students safe. There is also a new compendium of resources for parents and caregivers to protect the online health and safety of youth. This comes in response to concerns about the negative impact of digital technology on the mental health of young people.

There are several other things you can do to observe Suicide Prevention Month this September and every day of the year, including:

And remember the 5 action steps that can save a life – and share them with others.

  1. Ask.
  2. Be there.
  3. Help keep them safe.
  4. Help them connect.
  5. Follow up.

Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to care. All of us have a role to play in showing compassion and supporting one another when we are struggling— and together, we can make a difference in someone’s life by learning how to support those considering suicide. Let’s carry the lessons of Suicide Prevention Month throughout the year. No matter your role—whether it’s starting the conversation, offering hope, or directing those in need to help—these are strategies that can help save lives.

*The Jed Foundation and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention are leading national nonprofit organizations focused on suicide prevention, and the featured resources provide valuable insight on how to communicate with someone thinking about suicide.

SAMHSA Resources

This article was originally published on September 6th, 2024, and can be found here.

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