The month of September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Suicide is a sensitive and difficult topic that affects individuals of all ages, genders, races, cultures and backgrounds. In fact, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. Further analysis of the data only magnifies the scope of the issue.

Suicide rates in the United States increased by 35% between 1999 and 2018. Worldwide, over 800,000 people – one every 40 seconds – die by suicide each year. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34. Nearly 80% of people that die by suicide are male. LGBTQ+, military veterans and the elderly all face elevated rates of suicide. The list of astonishing statistics could go on.

According to the American Counseling Association, specific risk factors associated with suicide can include mental health issues like depression or anxiety disorders, alcohol or substance abuse, feelings of hopelessness, history of trauma, major physical illness, relationship problems, financial difficulties, experiencing crisis, access to means of suicide, family history of suicide and exposure to suicide attempts of others either directly or even through media. More recently, things like constant connection to news via smartphones, social media replacing face-to-face interactions, increased pressure on students and employees and even the pandemic situation have further exacerbated isolation, loneliness and feelings of uncertainty, which also represent risk factors.

While the presence of these risk factors does not necessarily mean someone will consider suicide, it is important to know the warning signs. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, these signs might include increased alcohol or drug use, extreme anger, aggressive behavior, withdrawal from family and friends, impulsive or reckless behavior, dramatic mood swings, becoming easily agitated or anxious, buying a weapon or collecting and saving pills, giving away possessions, saying goodbye to family and friends or talking about suicide.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, with its #BeThe1To message, is spreading the word about five steps that we can all take to help prevent suicide: ask, be there, keep them safe, help them connect and follow up. Research shows that asking a person directly and non-judgmentally if they are considering suicide or have a plan to do so can help open a dialogue. Being there can mean simply listening, following through on promises or even physically being present. Studies show that simply removing access to lethal means can reduce the risk of suicide. Helping them connect can include identifying a support network and establishing a safety plan for times of crisis. Following up might mean making a phone call, sending a text or finding a time to visit. It can be challenging to approach these steps, but doing so in a calm, supportive, patient and non-judgmental way might just save someone’s life.

For every person that dies by suicide each year, there are another 60 that have survived an attempt and more than 300 more that have thought seriously about it. The bottom line is that, whether you are struggling personally or know someone who is, we can all make a difference by allowing a safe space for dialogue, supporting ourselves and each other and encouraging anyone in need to seek help.

There are many resources available to support those in crisis and their loved ones. Simply normalizing the conversation around mental health is vital. It can be helpful to talk with a mental health therapist and encourage others to do the same. And in a mental health emergency, which might include suicidal thoughts, or simply to talk through things in an open and safe way, call or text 988.