Part 3: Getting Involved in Your Community to Help Prevent Suicide
I'm glad you've been following along on this series promoting suicide prevention and awareness. While September's National Suicide Prevention Awareness campaign is coming to a close, there are ways you can be involved all year round to help increase suicide prevention and awareness! See below for some resources and ways you can help all year long:
1. Bringing Suicide Prevention to schools - check out these programs listed by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP):
https://afsp.org/bring-suicide-prevention-to-your-school
2. Consider taking part in an Out of Darkness Walk OR you can even be part of a planning committee in your town:
3. Consider making donations to community resources that support suicide prevention and awareness.
4. Consider bringing suicide prevention and awareness into your community - churches, youth groups, college seminars, etc.
5. Talk about suicide to friends, family members, and other loved ones.
6. Communicate safety to those around you. Let people know you're a safe space to talk
7. Know what politicians think about mental health and what support/laws they're wanting to introduce to support mental health and VOTE ;)
8. Check out https://www.samhsa.gov/suicide for more information on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) efforts to increase suicide prevention and awareness
9. Make donations to community and non-profit counseling centers who provide support and counseling to those struggling.
10. Support crisis centers through donation or volunteering:
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/our-crisis-centers/
https://www.crisistextline.org/become-a-volunteer/
11. Get involved with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved
12. Join your local American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) chapter!
https://afsp.org/find-a-local-chapter
Thanks for following and reading this series for National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Stay well friends, and if you're not, reach out to someone!
*If you or someone you love is struggling with suicide or suicide behaviors please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 or the Georgia Crisis and Access Line 1-800-715-4225*