On September 10, people across the globe will celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day. On this unique and solemn day, we remember those who have lost their lives to suicide and consider how to prevent future acts. At Crossroads Maine, we want to take this special day to consider how suicide affects the people closest to those who choose this act. We also want to give you some ideas about how you can celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day this year.

If you are living with a mental health condition and addiction, it is time to get treatment today. At Crossroads Maine, we’re proud to provide mental health treatment for women around the country. To learn how our treatment programs can help you, contact our team today at 877.978.1667.

Suicide and Its Impacts

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people have died by suicide. Whether they’re battling a mental health condition or their situation is so dire that they don’t see any way out, suicide remains one of the leading causes of death across the world. Suicide is the end result of a variety of risk factors combining, including:

Genetics
Psychological issues
Social situations
Cultural risk factors
Trauma and loss

You do not have to have all of these risk factors to be at risk of suicide. In some cases, just one of these factors is enough to put you at risk for suicide.

Unfortunately, suicide doesn’t just affect the person making this fatal choice. Each time a person takes their own life, on average, over a hundred people are affected by this person’s choice. That means that every year, millions of people lose someone in their life to suicide.

Methods of Suicide Prevention

Because suicide affects so many people, World Suicide Prevention Day is vital. One of the primary ways to prevent suicide is to know the signs that someone is about to make this decision. A person who is about to take their own life may talk a good deal about death, feeling hopeless, or having no reason to live. They may have begun using more drugs or alcohol and pulling away from their families. In addition, the person may have started looking up ways to do this by using the Internet. Other signs that a person is considering suicide include:

Calling people or visiting them to say goodbye
Giving away their possessions
Withdrawing from activities
Feelings of aggression
Feelings of anxiety or depression suddenly changing to peace or relief

If you think someone you love is considering suicide, act right away. Doing so can save a life. For emergency care, contact 911.

How to Celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day

There are a variety of ways to celebrate this momentous day. You can participate in Cycling Around the Globe, a worldwide event that runs from September 10 to October 10. This event raises awareness for suicide prevention and encourages individuals who are impacted by suicide.

In addition, you can tell your story. If you have been impacted by a suicide attempt or a loved one’s suicide, then write down your story and share it with those closest to you or on social media. Doing so can spread awareness about how suicide affects the people around the person making the choice.

Finally, make sure to learn the signs of a person considering suicide. If you know the signs and act quickly, you could be saving a person’s life.

Contact Crossroads Maine

At Crossroads Maine, we’re proud to celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day, but we’re equally honored to offer mental health treatment. At our women’s treatment center, we provide a wide range of mental health treatment programs, including:

To learn more about how you can celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day or about our mental health treatment options for women, contact us today at 877.978.1667.