by Jeanni Ritchie
For every death by suicide, there are 25 suicide attempts.
Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States and the 3rd leading cause of death for youth. We need to change these statistics.
#SuicidePreventionMonth
September is National Suicide Prevention Month and is a great time to get conversations started. Mental health matters and the more we destigmatize getting help for mental health needs, the fewer lives will be senselessly lost.
AFSP
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) aims to do just that. Through advocacy and community events, programs such as Talk Saves, a community presentation, and Out of Darkness Walks initiate conversations that save lives.
The AFSP Louisiana chapter is actively seeking volunteers. “The grassroots work we do focuses on eliminating the loss of life from suicide by delivering innovative prevention programs, educating the public about risk factors and warning signs, raising funds for suicide research and programs, and reaching out to those individuals who have lost someone to suicide and to those who have struggled with suicidal ideations or have lived experiences.”
They bring together people from all backgrounds who want to prevent suicide in our communities: families and friends who have lost someone to suicide, vulnerable individuals, mental health professionals, clergy, educators, students, and community/business leaders. Reach out to Mgoldbeck@afsp.org or 504-220-6100 to learn more!
Out of Darkness Walks
Upcoming Walks in Louisiana:
Sept. 14: Southwest LA Walk, Lake Charles
Sept. 21: Bayou Region Walk, Thibodeaux
Sept. 28: Acadiana Walk, Youngsville
Oct. 19: Greater BR Walk, Baton Rouge
Nov. 9: Greater NOLA Walk, New Orleans
Visit https://afsp.org/chapter/louisiana for more information.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress and prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones. Call or text 988. The line is open 24/7.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
