Preventing Suicide

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicidality disproportionately affects the LGBTQ community, often because of the higher levels of trauma, stress, and discrimination we experience. However, suicide is preventable. This month, here’s a few things you can do to promote positive mental health and prevent suicide in your community.

Understand the warning signs. There are many warning signs a suicidal person may express. This includes someone talking about:

• Feeling hopeless

• Having no reason to live

• Being a burden to others

• Feeling trapped

• Unbearable pain

Behavioral warning signs include:

• Increased use of alcohol or drugs

• Looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods

• Withdrawing from activities

• Isolating from family and friends

• Sleeping too much or too little

• Visiting or calling people to say goodbye

• Giving away prized possessions

• Aggression

• Fatigue

A person considering suicide may also exhibit mood changes:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Loss of interest in usual activities

• Irritability

• Humiliation/Shame

• Agitation/Anger

• Sudden relief/Improvement 

Have conversations. There is a very common misconception that asking someone if they’re considering suicide will “put the thought in their head.” This is not true. If you think a loved one may be considering suicide, don’t be afraid to ask them directly, but ask without expressing judgment. Understand the resources available and offer support. Read more conversation tips at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

• https://talkawaythedark.afsp.org/thinkingaboutsuicide

• https://talkawaythedark.afsp.org/connectingsomeonetohelp

Know the resources. You can save these numbers in your phone for future reference.

• 988 is a 24/7 crisis/suicide hotline: https://988lifeline.org/

• 988 also offers LGBTQ-specific support https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/lgbtqi/

• Text TALK to 741-741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7

• The Trevor Project offers a 24/7 call, text, and chat line for LGBTQ youth under 24

• Call: 1-866-488-7386

• Text: 678-678

• Chat: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

Advocate.

If you’re interested in advocacy, you can get involved with organizations such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). AFSP provides education and holds advocacy events around suicide prevention. You can volunteer with the local Greater CNY chapter: https://afsp.org/chapter/greater-central-new-york

Even more local to Cortland County is the SPEAK UP Coalition. SPEAK UP is a coalition of Cortland community members that advocate for increased education and awareness to prevent suicide in the county. SPEAK UP meets monthly, and there are also two subcommittees that focus on the priority populations of youth and men over 35, respectively: https://www.speakupcortland.org

Finally, you can also take our training programs that focus on suicide prevention, such as the AFSP program Talk Saves Lives: LGBTQ. Our programs at the Cortland LGBTQ Center are always free of cost.