Suicide Prevention: Beyond Awareness, Toward Sustained Action
- Letecia Griffin
- Sep 28
- 5 min read
#ReduceTheStigma #StartTheConversation #BeTheDifference #SustainedAction
DISCLAIMER: This blog article contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know might be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, text at 741741, or chat online at 988lifeline.org.
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and while campaigns like this shine a much-needed spotlight on an urgent issue, I want us to pause and consider something deeper: what happens when the spotlight fades? I mean awareness is powerful, but awareness alone isn’t enough. Awareness is just the beginning. The real challenge is carrying what we’ve learned beyond September and into the daily rhythm of our lives.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve sat together with some of the hardest truths. We started by naming suicide for what it is: a global public health crisis that deserves our collective attention. That first step matters because naming takes something out of the shadows. It shifts suicide from being seen as a shameful secret or personal failure to being understood as a public health issue that requires compassion, care, and shared responsibility. We also looked at how much language matters. The words we use can either build walls of stigma or open doors of connection. When we choose words that validate, honor, and invite honesty, we create spaces where people feel safer to share what’s really going on. Then we faced some stubborn myths head-on. One of the most dangerous? The idea that asking someone about suicide might put the thought in their head. The truth is the opposite. Asking directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?” can feel terrifying to say. However, once we have asked, it often brings relief. It says, “I see you. I’m not afraid of your pain. You don’t have to carry this alone.” Most recently, we reflected on the importance of noticing and paying attention to those subtle shifts in mood, behavior, or words that might signal distress. You don’t need to be a mental health professional to notice. You just need to be present and willing to lean in instead of pulling away. When we put all of this together, the lesson becomes clear: suicide prevention is not passive. It is a practice. It is something we engage in through our words, our presence, and our willingness to stay open.
Beyond September: Making Prevention a Daily Practice
Awareness months matter because they concentrate attention. They give us permission to talk openly about things we might otherwise avoid. But awareness months are not the finish line. When October arrives, prevention work still matters. Think of suicide prevention not as a campaign, but as a rhythm we weave into daily life. Small, steady actions are often more powerful than one grand gesture. Here are three ways we can all carry suicide prevention forward:
1. Keep Talking: Make the Conversation Normal
Conversations about suicide and mental health can feel awkward, but silence is more dangerous. Silence isolates. Silence lets pain grow in the dark. Here’s something to try: the next time you check in on a friend, go beyond “How are you?” and ask, “How are you, really?” Then pause. Leave space for them to answer honestly. And when the moment calls for it, don’t be afraid to ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide?” That question, though heavy, communicates care at the deepest level.
➡️ Reflection for you: How comfortable do you feel with that question? If the answer is “not very,” that’s okay. Just noticing your own hesitation is a starting point. Maybe you practice saying the words out loud in private, so if the time ever comes, they won’t feel quite so foreign on your tongue. |
2. Keep Noticing: Pay Attention to the Subtle Shifts
Our culture runs on busyness, and in the rush, we often miss quiet signals from the people around us. But noticing is an act of love.
It might look like:
A normally social friend who suddenly pulls away.
A teen who loses interest in what once lit them up.
A colleague who seems unusually restless, distracted, or shut down.
Prevention means slowing down enough to notice. And when you do notice, don’t dismiss it. Lean in gently: “I’ve noticed you seem different lately. I care about you. What’s going on?”
➡️ Reflection for you: Think of one person in your circle right now who seems “a little off.” Could you reach out this week with a text, a phone call, or even a simple, “I’m thinking of you”? Small check-ins go further than we realize. |
3. Keep Sharing: Make Resources Visible
Resources only help if people know they exist. In moments of despair, the brain struggles to problem-solve. That’s why having resources shared openly and repeatedly is so critical.
In the U.S., the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is one of the most important resources we have. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. For LGBTQ+ youth, The Trevor Project provides specialized support. Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) is available 24/7. If you’re outside the U.S., look up your local crisis line now and keep it saved where you can easily share it.
➡️ Reflection for you: Could you post one of these numbers on your social media this week, add it to your email signature, or write it on a sticky note where your teens can see it? Visibility saves lives. |
As you reflect upon the information presented this month, please note that suicide prevention isn’t about having all the answers. It isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being human. It’s about choosing to notice, choosing to listen, and choosing to care. As September closes, let’s not close the conversation. Let’s carry forward what we’ve learned:
Suicide is not a shameful secret; it is a public health issue.
Myths must be replaced with truth.
Warning signs are invitations to lean in.
Every check-in, every question, every resource shared is a real act of prevention.
And if you are struggling right now: you are not alone. Help is here. Hope is here. Reach out to 988 today. The Team there will be more than willing to provide you with the next steps necessary to help you get support. As always, please remember. Wherever you are on this wellness journey, do not worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Take care of yourselves and take care of each other. Until next time. Happy reading.
➡️ Your gentle challenge: What is one small action you can take this week that keeps this momentum alive? |
“Awareness is the greatest agent for change.” ~Eckhart Tolle
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