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You Are Not Alone During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Jaclyn Baker

September is a month to remember those who have struggled with thoughts of suicide and have lost their lives. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month aims to send a message of change and of support as a reminder that you are not alone.

If you or anyone you know has struggled with these thoughts it can be helpful to hear from those who have experience.

This month also urges us to help prevent suicide by being there for others. 

According to 4 in 5 US adults (80%), they say that mental and physical health are equally important. Creating a safe environment to show that mental health is a priority starts by connecting with people who are going through a challenging time. 

It can make a significant change in their life.

Be There 

Offering to be there for someone and listen to them without judgement can be a contributing factor in them seeking out more help. When you show others that you are willing to lend a helping hand, it can give peace of mind that someone cares. 

If your friend or family member is working through their healing, show that you are willing to be someone they can lean on during this time. 

Stay Connected

Taking action to connect friends or family with helpful resources can also show your support. Often, people may not know where to turn or what’s available to them. If someone is at risk, you can guide them to the right places so they can continue to seek help. 

Letting them know that what they are facing isn’t something they have to carry alone can lighten the burden. 

Learn about more resources and helpful tools by following the links below:

Suicide Prevention Month

Learning The Warning Signs

Start The Conversation

Read Stories From Survivors

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line

An Open Conversation: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Jaclyn Baker

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September) is about making mental health an open discussion between family, friends, and peers. It’s important to highlight the voices and stories of those who are in recovery from suicidal thoughts, to spread messages of hope and resilience. 

When asked, more than 9 in 10 adults (94%) have said they would do something if someone close to them was contemplating suicide. 

Checking in on those around you and having these conversations can make an impact in their life. Keep an eye out for the signs and reach out to show your support by learning some of these conversation starters:

Phrases You Can Ask

“I’ve noticed you’ve been down lately? What’s going on?” 

“Hi, we haven’t talked in a while. How are you?” 

“Is there anything you want to talk about?” 

Offering A Listening Ear

Remember that you aren’t expected to have all the answers or be an expert. Listening and being someone people know they can count on, is a great place to begin. 

Just showing a friend that you care and want to understand them is enough.

Extending The Invitation

Even being in the presence of a friend, lets them know that if they ever want to talk they have the option to when they are with you. Whether you invite them to go for a walk, grab food together, or play games. 

Taking the pressure off and letting a heart to heart come naturally can also be helpful. 

For more resources, you can follow these links:

Learning The Warning Signs

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Information | NAMI

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line

Navigating a Mental Health Crisis

Spreading Awareness This September

Jaclyn Baker
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The month of September is dedicated to Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Recovery Month. This time is meant to reflect and spread hope for those struggling with suicidal thoughts and addiction.

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is about having open communication with your peers and checking in on your loved ones. The key message of the campaign is to show that you are not alone. It is also a time to recognize the lives that have been lost to suicide. 

Bringing awareness to the topics is a way to stop the stigma and ensure that people know how important it is to prioritize mental health care. 

National Recovery Month is also held every September to call positive attention to the importance of treatment and recovery, especially for those dealing with mental or substance use disorders. 

Celebrate and recognize the strides made by those who live full and meaningful lives while on medication or in recovery. Remember that you are resilient and recovery in all forms is possible.

This month is a time where the community comes together. It’s important to reach out or listen to mental health advocates, survivors, and allies to continue to educate yourself.

For more information, you can check out the following resources:

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Information | NAMI

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line

Navigating a Mental Health Crisis

National Recovery Month Information

National Recovery Month 2021 Events

The History of NAADAC and the Addiction Profession | YouTube

We All Have Bad Days

Jaclyn Baker
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We’ve all had those days where it feels like nothing goes our way.

You know, those days where we forgot to set our alarm clock, or accidentally sent an important email with typos…

When something goes wrong, sometimes it can feel like you took a step back.

But you know what? It doesn’t have to feel that way. You have it in you to turn a bad day into a great one. 

Take Away The Power

The truth is bad days will come.

But they will also go. 

You don’t have to let a bad day weigh on your mind for days. 

Reminding yourself that these days don’t last forever can take that power away. 

Living in the present and taking each situation head-on can help you see that those bad days have some good in them too.

Escape Expectations 

High expectations and running into tough challenges are not exactly a winning combination. 

Meaning that a mistake or setback can feel even worse if you went into the day hoping for it to be perfect. 

Try reframing your expectations instead, and you will see that there isn’t an obstacle you can’t overcome. 

Accept that you are human, and there will be times when you fall. 

But you know what? You can still get right back up afterwards. 

Set your expectations around the phrase “I tried my best” and cut yourself some slack. 

Just be proud of knowing that you gave the day your all. 

Enjoy The Detour 

Each day is a new beginning that allows you to grow further into the person you are. 

So, think about a bad day more like a mini detour on your path to success rather than a roadblock.

Even if you don’t get to your destination today, you can still take time to enjoy the view. 

It’s when you look at the bigger picture that you start to take joy in the detours. 

Every bad day comes along with a life lesson and can help you appreciate the good days even more. 

There is strength in every struggle!

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Do We Really Thrive On Structure?

Jaclyn Baker
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Let’s talk about structure, shall we? 

Having structure is more than just staying organized. 

Maintaining structure can build confidence and help you stay on track throughout the day. 

Have you ever had one of those days where you had a list a mile long and had no idea where to start?

We all have! 

Adding structure to your day may not be able to eliminate those moments completely…

But it can certainly help dial them down.  Remember – your entire day doesn’t have to be perfect. 

All you can do is start slow and work your way up at your own pace. 

Your Sleep Schedule

Shortcuts aren’t always a bad thing. But they do have their time and their place. 

Your sleep is one of those things that needs your undivided attention and should be taken seriously. 

When we are overtired, it is difficult to think clearly and put things in perspective, which can make it harder to make decisions throughout the day. 

Going to sleep and waking up at the same time can help take out the guesswork and keep your body on track. 

It all comes down to changing your mindset. Instead of telling yourself, you have to go to sleep, tell yourself it’s time to go to sleep. 

Sleep shouldn’t feel like a chore you have to do. It should feel like a treat! 

Reflection/Quiet Time

None of us are superheroes, and we all need some quiet time throughout the day. 

An uninterrupted moment free of distractions or overstimulating environments can help you to unplug and reflect. 

Let’s be honest. It can be difficult to relax and enjoy the moment when your phone is buzzing every 5 minutes

You deserve to have that time for yourself where you can think about what you’re grateful for and highlight all the ways you’ve made a mark on the day.

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The Twists And Turns of Parenting a Teen

Jaclyn Baker
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There is no super-secret manual for parenting a teen, and it can certainly be a confusing time for the entire family. 

Here are a few tips that can help you get through the unexpected twists and turns of parenting a teen. 

Be Prepared

Being a teen is far from easy. Their brain is not fully developed, and everything from school to friendships to dating to figuring out who they are can be very stressful. 

It’s normal for teens to experience mood swings and say things they don’t mean in the heat of the moment. 

Being prepared and having a game plan ahead of time can be a big help. 

Pick Your Battles

All family members disagree from time to time. Life would be pretty boring if we all agreed on everything, right?

It’s only a matter of time until your teen does something you don’t think is wise, such as staying up too late on a school night or quitting an after-school activity.

Even though you may not agree with their decisions, sometimes the best thing you can do is let them be independent and learn from their mistakes first hand. 

Some of the best lessons happen through experiences. 

Realize And Empathize

Do you remember what it was like to be a teenager? 

Put yourself in their shoes for a moment. 

Getting into a fight with a friend or getting a bad grade on a test can be quite stressful. 

Now, you know that in a few days everything will be fine and back to normal…

But their mind may be spinning in several different directions, immediately jumping to the worst-case scenario. 

Do you remember what those days were like and how you felt?

When you are upset, hearing your parents say everything will be fine isn’t always enough.

If that’s the case, you can open up and let them know how you dealt with similar events when you were a teen and how feelings come and go.

Knowing that they are not alone can help put things in perspective. 

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No One Is You And That Is Your Superpower

Jaclyn Baker
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Here’s a quick question for you. 

What top three qualities do you love most about yourself?

Okay – now here is a second question. 

When was the last time you sat down and thought about all the amazing qualities you have? 

Sometimes we can forget to remind ourselves how much we have to offer.

No one is you, and that is your superpower. 

View Yourself With a Healthy Outlook 

We all have those days where it feels like nothing goes our way. 

Every “bad” day has the potential to turn into a great one. 

All it takes is a little perspective shifting. 

Even if something feels overwhelming or stressful right now, that does not mean you will feel this way forever.

Believe that you can handle anything – and you will! 

Listen To What Makes You Happy

Listing and respecting what makes you happy in life can significantly boost your self-esteem.

If reading just one chapter of a book makes you feel good, keep on doing it. 

There is no need to put excess pressure on yourself just to make someone else happy. 

Walking away from something that does not bring you joy is not quitting – it is respecting your time and wellbeing.

After all, the most important relationship you will ever have is the one with yourself.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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