SUPPORT SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS THIS SEPTEMBER
BOCA RATON, FL (September 9, 2024) – September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a month in which the world comes together to promote suicide awareness—a time when we open conversations to defeat the stigma around suicide, support survivors who have experienced the heartbreaking loss of a loved one to suicide, and raise awareness that suicide can be prevented.
“Suicide is a public health issue that affects all of us, and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month serves as a reminder that we each have a role to play in prevention and to look out for one another,” said Karin Gellen, Kindness Matters 365 (KM365) Executive Director. “KM365 is proud to provide programming to foster the development and well-being of our children and teens, supporting them to explore resilience, empathy, and essential life skills to discover how to care for themselves, each other, and our world. During September and all year, we must join to raise suicide prevention awareness, help remove the stigma, and do what we can to support those who are struggling.”
Every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide. It is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, taking nearly 50,000 lives nationwide each year. Despite increasing amounts of suicide prevention work across the county, improved understanding, and development of evidence-based assessment tools and interventions, deaths from suicide continued to rise. And, despite great strides that have been made in research and treatment, the stigma and myths around suicide reinforce shame and secrecy in the home, family, and community, which can play a significant role in delaying or preventing lifesaving interventions.
We all can be key players in suicide prevention. Learn the signs, understand high-risk factors, and encourage those struggling with suicidal thoughts to seek help. Consider advocating for greater access to mental health support. We are all in this together. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available; they need to know that there is hope and they are not alone.
KM365’s partner, The Charlie Fund, is an incredible nonprofit dedicated to creating and growing spaces, programming, and resources that help build connections and break down the stigma around mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) also has local chapters offering support groups and classes. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 273-8255 or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, whose 24/7 network and its partners are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention, taking actions that can promote healing, help, and give hope.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides a dedicated time for us all to come together to address and raise awareness, help provide resources for those in need and their loved ones, further research and innovations, and drive thought leadership with intent. While suicide prevention must be addressed year-round, the month of September reminds us that, together, we all can make an impact.
ABOUT KINDNESS MATTERS 365
Kindness Matters 365 (KM365) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Boca Raton, FL, that has positively impacted our youth and communities since 2008. KM365 fosters the well-being and development of children and teens through education, development, and community engagement. Through after-school programs, virtual programs, assemblies, and hands-on community problem-solving initiatives, kids explore KM365’s framework of topics to develop resilience, empathy, and essential life skills to discover how to best care for themselves, each other, and our world. KM365 is a vetted vendor of programming and training for the Florida Department of Education’s Safe and Healthy School Enrichment for Learning division and is a designated service provider to schools in Florida. Since its inception, KM365 has grown to encompass 142 programs and has served over 25,000 children and teens. Visit kindnessmatters365.org for more information and follow KM365 on social media via Facebook @kindnessmatters365org and Instagram @kindnessmatters365.
