Suicide remains a serious public health threat that touches the lives of many Americans. In 2022, nearly 50,000 lives were lost to suicide, 13.2 million people reported seriously considering suicide, 1.6 million reported a suicide attempt, and millions more supported someone close to them who was in distress. Disparities in suicide and suicide attempts still exist. Populations disproportionately impacted include veterans, racial and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ populations, youth, middle-aged and older adults, individuals with serious mental illness, and certain occupational groups, among others (HHS, 2024).
September is Suicide Prevention Month. During this month-mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. Each year, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) creates a resource guide to promote coordinated ways to get involved in Suicide Prevention Month.
The 2024 guide, Ideas for Action, offers information to help anyone, anywhere get involved in September’s Suicide Prevention Month. It includes tips on how to take action to help prevent suicide in every community by learning about effective suicide prevention, sharing stories of hope, and encouraging everyone to be there for those who are struggling.
SPRC recommends getting strategic in prevention efforts by implementing the recommendations in the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Strategy). The National Strategy is a 10-year, comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. Included in the strategy are concrete recommendations for addressing gaps in the suicide prevention field. A coordinated and comprehensive approach to suicide prevention at the national, state, tribal, local, and territorial levels using partnerships across the public and private sectors and people with lived experience is critical to the success of the work. Through preventing suicide risk in the first place; identifying and supporting people with increased risk through treatment and crisis intervention; preventing reattempts; promoting long-term recovery; and supporting survivors of suicide loss, the National Strategy strives to enact comprehensive long-range change (HHS, 2024).
The National Strategy outlines four areas of strategic direction with corresponding goals and resources for suicide prevention:
Suicide Prevention Month provides an opportunity to explore and share new resources. SPRC has an Online Library to find resources (e.g., tools, fact sheets, reports) developed by SPRC and other suicide prevention organizations.
Additionally, SPRC has developed a model for effective suicide prevention to assist communities and organizations in enacting suicide prevention and achieving goals. SPRC’s blueprint is outlined in a brief video, "Effective Suicide Prevention," that can be used to start suicide prevention planning efforts.
SPRC partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago to develop a population focused resource guide for those who live and work with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) youth. The guide, "Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Resource Guide," was developed with input and review from LGBTQIA2S+ individuals and those having experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This resource guide is intended to serve as a novel resource for families, communities, and professionals who interact with LGBTQIA2S+ youth (ages 10 to 24). To get started, watch a brief webinar for an overview of the series, and to help spread the word about this important new resource.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has launched a new website for ordering print materials to promote the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (988 Lifeline). 988 Lifeline print materials are free to the public. To inquire about bulk orders or any order concerns, please email [email protected].
988 Lifeline publishes and regularly updates a 988 Partner Toolkit, which provides partners with social media, video, print, radio, FAQs, messaging, and other marketing materials that can be used to promote the 988 Lifeline. 988 Lifeline has added new social media shareables to the 988 Partner Toolkit. The new content includes social media posts and graphics and a mental health awareness PSA. You can also access print materials in the 988 Partner Toolkit.
CDC’s "Suicide Prevention Resource for Action Manual" details strategies with the best available evidence to reduce suicide. The manual can help states and communities prioritize suicide prevention activities most likely to have an impact. The programs, practices, and policies in the manual can be tailored to the needs of populations and communities (CDC, 2022).
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Successful suicide prevention can occur through comprehensive strategic action, collaboration, and evidence-based practices. Information for supporting diverse communities and populations is available from the SPRC’s Online Library and select Population pages. For information on evidence-based and best practices programs and guidelines, visit SPRC’s Best Practices Registry, which provides an online library of suicide prevention programs and interventions searchable by population or setting.
Recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Month is an opportunity to renew suicide prevention efforts and join the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention in the following dedication to Prevent Suicide (HHS, 2024):
We believe that we can, and we will make a difference.
CDC. (2022). Suicide Prevention Resource for Action: A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Washington, DC: HHS, April 2024.