“September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month—a time to raise awareness, promote hope, and normalize help-seeking.” —Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

The Beautiful Minds Coalition (BMC) was founded to provide a welcoming and safe space for all of us who deal with mental health issues, long term or short. Reducing stigma and increasing awareness of issues related to mental health are major goals of BMC.

September is Suicide Awareness month with similar goals. Even though there is one person dying from suicide every 11 minutes in the United States, suicide is an issue around which there is much stigma and little conversation. Chances are that we all have been affected directly or indirectly by suicide and don’t talk about it. Chances are that we know people affected and don’t talk about it.

This month we are focusing on what suicide is—bringing up some talking points that may generate uncomfortable feelings. In the service of increasing awareness and reducing stigma, hold that discomfort for a few minutes and read on.

Knowing more is one way to break the stigma: Some points to talk about.

What suicide isn’t. Suicide is not a moral weakness, “just a bid for attention,” or a cowardly act. These evaluative descriptions stigmatize. It occurs in all age groups, all parts of the country, and at every stage of life. AND, it is thought about by 10 times the number of people who complete it.

What suicide is. The American Psychological Dictionary defines it as: “the act of intentionally taking one’s own life.” —APA Dictionary of Psychology, retrieved 08/12/2025. Note that it is an intentional act. It has a goal and the person considering it is choosing suicide as a way to achieve that goal. Another way of putting it is that suicide is seen as a solution to a problem by the person thinking about it. Most of the time it is the only solution they can see.

Why suicide? Suicide is seen as the only solution to unendurable pain. The pain is frequently triggered by a major loss. Losses may be of significant relationships, reputation, valued ability or health. It may be aggravated by: using substances to cope with stress; managing mental health challenges, especially over long periods of time; living with chronic pain or illness; ongoing health challenges; being traumatized or abused; and, feeling isolated or without support.

Clues: How can I recognize suicidal risk? Frequently, people who are considering suicide will:

• give away prized possessions
• start “getting their affairs in order”
• talk about death and dying
• sleep poorly
• have a poor appetite
• let personal hygiene go
• talk critically about themselves and their worth
• withdraw from others they do not feel deserving to be around
• struggle with having enough energy for daily life activities
• complains about depression, numbness, or emptiness

After recognizing the potential in others, what do I do?

• Don’t ignore the concern. Pay attention to the clues you are seeing. 85% of people thinking about suicide will communicate their distress ahead of an actual attempt.
• Check for safety. Sometimes we come across people accidentally who are contemplating suicide in places that pose a risk to them and us. Always be aware of your safety and theirs. Disengage and call emergency services, if it does not feel safe to intervene.
• Ask directly. Gently and without judgement, ask a person if they have thought about or are thinking about killing themselves. It will not put the idea in their head. It is usually received with a sigh of relief. People are generally glad to have the opportunity to tell their story without worrying about how it will be received.
• Listen and stay present. Sometimes people who are considering suicide have tried saying something to their friends or family and have been discounted; the subject has been changed; or, they have been told not to think that way. Their thoughts are too hard for people to handle, so they avoid the subject. To have somebody listen to them, without judging, validates their worth, reduces the internal pressure they feel, and builds their hope. A good second question is, “do you have a plan?” If the answer is yes, “Tell me more,” said with genuine interest usually leads to more conversation about the person’s plan, the triggering event, their history, and the people in their lives who have cared for them in the past.
• Connect them to help, such as crisis lines and other resources. Having a conversation with a suicidal person will often lead to an action plan—one that gives them a path to help. If it is OK with the person, connecting them with a friend, family member, or emergency service person is acceptable. Knowing and using the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Line (988) affords us a way to connect people with immediate help.
• Follow-up. If it is feasible, following up with the person, after the immediate crisis is resolved, shows how much you value them.

For more information, please contact: BeautifulMindsMinistry@covenantcares.org

By Beautiful Minds Coalition: A Mental Health Ministry