National Suicide Prevention Month is upon us again. This month represents hope: hope as we create more awareness about suicide. hope found in available resources. and hopefully as we see the stigma around dealing with suicide diminish. This month can also represent pain for those who have touched suicide. No matter how you feel this September, there are things you can do to bring hope to your family and community. Learn it warning signs and risk factors for suicidethe attend a training (many trainings are now offered online) to learn how to intervene and report if someone is having suicidal thoughts and help spread the word about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
SAMHSA is committed to suicide prevention year-round. Our commitment is evident in our leadership, our funding opportunities and our partnerships. Many of our funding opportunities help address groups disproportionately affected by suicide.
- American Indian and Tribal Communities: American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) experience disproportionately high suicide rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2022 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), from 2015-2020, suicide rates among AI/AN individuals increased by nearly 20%. While provisional estimates of suicide rates in this population have decreased in 2022, suicide rates are still well above the national average. Embedding culture as a protective factor has been shown to help AI/AN individuals, especially youth, have an increased sense of purpose and belonging and may reduce suicidal ideation. At SAMHSA, we have developed a program called Native Connections that supports a model of increasing community preparedness to address suicide.
- Black Youth: Black youth face rapidly increasing rates of death and suicide attempts. According to CDC data, suicide deaths among black youth and young adults between the ages of 10-24 increased significantly from 2018-2021. Connecting Black youth with culturally supportive suicide prevention and mental health support may help reduce suicidal ideation and attempts among Black youth. At SAMHSA, we created a Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative to help develop strategies to support Black youth. To learn more about supporting this population, see HHS Report to Congress on African-American Youth Suicide (PDF | 1.3 MB).
- LGBTQ+ Youth: Youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers because of the stigma and mistreatment they experience in society.. LGBTQ+ youth who have even a supportive adult in their life (eg, parent, coach, teacher, mentor, friend’s parent, etc.) are 40% less likely to report a suicide attempt. You can check out our recently launched Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resource Guide as well as SAMHSA’s Family Counseling and Support Grant for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex+ Youth and Their Families for more information.
- Older adults: Data released by the CDC showed a significant increase in suicide deaths among seniors 64 and older in 2022. Understanding the challenges older adults face — such as increased chances of developing a chronic disease, which can be linked to a feeling burdened and perhaps suicidal thoughts and behaviors — can help create meaningful advocates for this population. Screening for suicide risk among older adults is another strategy for identifying older adults who are at risk for suicide. To learn more about supporting the mental health of older adults, SAMHSA’s E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in Aging may be useful.
- People with lived experience: Whether you’ve had suicidal thoughts yourself, loved or supported someone who survived a suicide attempt, or lost someone to suicide, it’s important to take extra care of yourself and pay attention to your needs for support and self-care. Some of the ways you can do this are; learning how to support someone who is thinking about suicide, search for resources for suicide attempt survivors the survivors of loss to suicide, and looking after your own mental health and well-being. The SPRC Life Experience Advisory Board is working to engage the field around the integration of lived experience into suicide prevention activities.
- People with Substance Use Disorders: Substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with a significantly increased risk of suicide in the United States, especially among individuals experiencing multiple SUDs. Share facts about substance use and abuse and connect people in your social and professional communities with evidence-based prevention information and tools, such as: SAMHSA’s “Talk.” They’re listening to you.” campaign, including its new mobile app, which helps parents and caregivers start conversations about substance abuse prevention; SAMHSA’s Student Assistance Program, which provides resources for schools and educators to help teachers, administrators, and other school professionals play a role in juvenile substance use and abuse prevention; harm reduction; and other SAMHSA resources on substance abuse and opioid overdose.
We all play a role in suicide prevention. When you start a conversation with a loved one who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts and offer support and model self-care, you provide hope to those who may need it most. If you belong to one of the groups highlighted above or have a loved one, we encourage you to build on this month’s momentum to incorporate additional support and learning opportunities in your community.
