SUICIDE PREVENTION THROUGH CONNECTEDNESS
September is Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month. Now more than ever we need your help to stay connected. This Suicide Prevention Month, we ask our community to connect and reach for support when needed. While support may look different to each individual, Suicide Prevention Month highlights the various factors that play into suicide prevention. It includes strengthening communication skills to safely talk with others about suicide, taking precautions to safely store lethal means such as firearms and medications, and educating others about the misconceptions and facts about suicide.
Suicide is a public health problem that impacts all of us. It’s the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and the second leading cause of death in the world for those aged 15-24 years. Each suicide has devastating effects and intimately affects a minimum of 6 other people. For every suicide death there are approximately 25 non-fatal suicide attempts.
If there is any silver lining to the pandemic, it may be that it has highlighted the importance of connection to mental health and wellness. Being able to connect with someone you trust and knowing that they will listen and support you is crucial for our mental wellness. Social support can leave us more resilient in the face of stress. Social connectedness has been found to be protective against suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Maintaining a strong and trusted social network is important for our mental wellness.
Positive and supportive social relationships and community connections can help
buffer the effects of risk factors in people’s lives.
If we’re going to prevent suicide, we need to support healthy interpersonal relationships and build caring communities. We need to remove social barriers to help for those in need, so that people who might be at-risk will be less likely to engage in life-threatening behaviors. This can ultimately help promote positive health and well-being in our communities and lower the risk of suicidal behavior.
Connectedness: The degree to which a person or group is socially close, interrelated or shares resources with other persons or groups. Connectedness can include:
Connectedness between individuals (e.g., friends, neighbors, co-workers)
Connectedness among family members
Connectedness to community organizations (e.g., schools, support groups, social groups, service clubs, faith communities)
Supportive relationships and community connectedness can help protect individuals against suicide despite the presence of risk factors in their lives. You can enhance connectedness through social programs for specific population groups (such as older adults or LGBTQ youth) and through other activities that reduce isolation, promote a sense of belonging, and foster emotionally supportive relationships.
Increasing connectedness among persons, families, and communities is likely to have a universal as well as a targeted effect on suicidal behavior. By supporting healthy relationships and by
encouraging communities to care about and care for their members, the population at large is likely to experience more positive health and well-being, resulting in lower risk of suicidal behavior.
For more information and resources:
988 Crisis & Suicide Lifeline – call or text 24/7
SAMSHA https://www.samhsa.gov/
Suicide Prevention Coalition Yavapai County https://spcyavapai.org/
Polara Health Crisis Stabilization Unit – Open 24/7
8655 E Eastridge Drive Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
928-445-5211
https://www.polarahealth.com/