by Chase Ruch | September 29, 2021 2:41 pm
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, but even though the month is coming to an end, that doesn’t make it any less important. Approximately 115,000 teens die by suicide each year, and according to Save.org, depression is the leading cause of suicidal thoughts in the world. But 80%-90% of people who seek help for depression are treated successfully.
Mental health is an on-going struggle for many people, and the issues it presents don’t go away simply because the spotlight does.
EHS Counselors understand the seriousness of suicide awareness and they are very understanding of potential situations.
“Our role a lot of times is response,” counselor Megan Scobie said. ”When a student comes in having suicidal thoughts, then, obviously, we do an assessment and see how serious their thoughts are.”
Suicide is a sensitive and important topic because sucidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. Though suicidal thoughts are common in many people, that doesn’t mean they are normal. If a person has thoughts of harming themself, there is always someone or something that can help. Resources are available year-round for anyone suffering from mental health issues.
A reliable resource is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. The suicide prevention hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and over 12 million calls have been answered. Another way to talk to someone is by calling 911. These first responders are there for anyone in need, even if all the person needs to do is chat.
Experts say it’s important to talk with friends and family because it is the best way to get a person’s mind off of stressful things.
“Speaking to someone would be beneficial to make it more normal for kids so they don’t feel like they are alone and can’t ask for help,” Scobie said.
Scobie said counselors are trained to help struggling students.
“We pay attention to whether they’re a low level risk, a moderate risk or a high level of risk, and that tells us what to do next,” Scobie said. “We could refer them to an outside therapist.”
Scobie said awareness in schools is an important way for students to get help.
“Normalizing it {talking about suicide more} is important,” Scobie said. “It is frequent among adolescents to kind of feel those thoughts of self harm.”
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