Suicide is not a topic anyone wants to talk about. However, it is very real. Within the last two year suicide rates has risen in adolescents ages 10-25 by nearly 30%, we lose 22 veterans a day to suicide. No one wants to talk about it, but if we don’t we can’t make a difference. One month a year is not making a change so we need to raise awareness for suicide and suicide awareness/prevention as often as possible. Sad, but the awful truth.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young adults and for every youth suicide it is estimated that 100 to 200 others attempt suicide. Young adulthood is a time when many people experience significant stress from life transitions such as gaining more independence and responsibility when moving from home and beginning college or a career. That stress has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, we’ve seen striking glimmers of resilience – the ability to bounce back from a negative experience or difficult challenge.
That’s why this September for #SuicidePreventionAwarenessMonth, we’re focusing on resiliency – a key skill to learn and develop when it comes to preventing suicide and coping with a pandemic. It allows you to face a problem or challenge, overcome it, and get back to life a little bit stronger and a little bit wiser. Take a look at the resources below to learn how you can develop your resiliency skills, protect the mental health of yourself and your peers, and prevent suicide for young adults across the nation.
If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone right now, text START to 741-741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor 24/7.
Downloadable Tip Sheets
Download the tip sheets below for young adults, caregivers, higher education professionals, and high school professionals for your reference and to share with friends and loved ones!
Seize the Awkward
Build resilience by reaching out to the people who care about you and having honest conversations with them about mental health. Not sure how to do this? Follow Seize the Awkward on Instagram this month as we share new content about how to start these impactful conversations.
