National Suicide Awareness Month
By Ivy Bagley
September is National Suicide Awareness Month. Suicide impacts all walks of life. One person dies from suicide approximately every 12 minutes. It is important that we discuss and recognize that mental illness is not a forbidden subject. It is important to note that many who commit suicide have no formal mental health diagnosis. We need to bring awareness to mental health and encourage people to seek care.
More teens die by suicide than by cancer, HIV/AIDS, birth defects, stroke, flu, lung disease combined. Four out of five teens who commit suicide have clear warning signs.
Warning signs for teens include:
- Sudden changes in behavior/mood.
- Talking about death, feeling trapped and no way out.
- Increased drug or alcohol use.
- Doing dangerous things.
- Withdrawing from family/friends.
- Regularly self-harming.
- Giving away personal possession.
If you are concerned about a teen, child, or even adult, please reach out to the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. We are also fortunate to have the MOBILE CRISIS UNIT in Eastern North Carolina which can be reached at 1-866-437-1821.