National Suicide Prevention Week

Sept. 10-16 marks National Suicide Prevention Week, a time to further our understanding of suicide and prevention. Here are some resources and learning opportunities to help you do that:

Suicide Facts & Figures

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of deaths by suicide increased 2.6% from 2021 to 2022. Here is some additional information about suicide in America from Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE):

• In 2021, 48,183 Americans died by suicide.
• Suicide is the 11^th leading cause of death in the U.S.
• Every day, approximately 132 Americans die by suicide.
• There is one suicide death in the U.S. every 10.9 minutes.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-to-24-year-old Americans.
• The highest suicide rates (per 100,000) in the U.S. are among white males (26.4), followed by American Indian/Alaska Native males (25) and Black males (14.1).
• There is one suicide death for every estimated 25 attempts.
• There are approximately 1,204,575 annual attempts in the U.S. (using 25:1 ratio), or one attempt every 26.2 seconds.

Learn more and access available resources:

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
• National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
• American Hospital Association (AHA)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource for Action
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s addition of nationwide American Sign Language (ASL)
• Now Matters Now
• Suicide Is Different
• Zero Suicide

Suicide Prevention Awareness

Bring attention to suicide prevention this month by downloading:

• SAMHSA 988 Lifeline/Suicide Prevention Month resources
• SAMHSA 988 Lifeline/Suicide Prevention Month resources (Spanish)
• CDC’s Suicide Prevention Month Partner Toolkit
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Digital Toolkit
• Action Alliance Framework for Successful Messaging
• Access free suicide prevention online training resources with MHRRG.

Suicide Prevention & Crisis Response

The launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on July 16, 2022, marked a turning point in mental health and substance use awareness and support in America. Learn more from SAMHSA:

• About the 988 Lifeline and FAQs
• 988 Lifeline’s First Year: A Network of Hope
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The First Year and Beyond (Issue Brief)
• 988 Lifeline Messaging Framework
• SAMHSA 988 Lifeline Partner Toolkit
• SAMHSA suicide prevention publications

Explore the National Council’s 988 Lifeline resources and content:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Fact Sheet
• Fulfilling the Promise of 988
• Implementing 988 and Future Priorities
• Roadmap to the Ideal Crisis System
• 988 and 911: Similarities and Differences
• Exploring the 988 Implementation Guidance Playbooks
• 988, Suicide Prevention and Community-based Crisis Services
• 988 and Mobile Crisis Response Through CCBHCs
• One Year into 988, Sustained Investment Needed to Expand Crisis Care System, Mental Health Workforce

Opportunities for Impact

Make a mark this month and throughout the year:

• Attend Understanding the 988 Lifeline LGBTQ+ Landscape, our webinar with Vibrant Emotional Health about increasing 988’s accessibility, on Thursday, Sept. 21 (1-2 p.m. ET).
• Register for our webinar, Care Transitions Practices for Suicidal Individuals, on Friday, Sept. 22 (2-3 p.m. ET), to understand what elevates suicide risk during various care transitions.
• Sign up for Hill Day at Home on Oct. 18 to advocate for 988 Lifeline implementation legislation.
• Write your legislator to help the 988 Lifeline become more sustainable and serve more people.
• Get trained in Mental Health First Aid to learn how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Join our Crisis Response Interest Group to strengthen crisis care delivery (a National Council member benefit).

Read our thought leadership to educate others:

• CCBHCs and Crisis Response Systems
• Psychiatric Leadership in Crisis Systems: The Role of the Crisis Services Medical Director
• Suicide Prevention and Management
• Best Practices for Suicide Prevention to Postvention
• Suicide Prevention Within the LGBTQ+ Community
• Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Talk About Suicide
• Crisis Services Leadership: Keeping Staff Wellness in Mind
• The Face of Mental Health and Substance Use Challenges: It’s All of Us
• Dismantling Mental Health Stigma in Public Safety
• Suicide is Preventable: How to Help with Mental Health First Aid
• Thriving in Adolescence with Meaningful Relationships: Considerations for Integrated Care Staff

For Immediate Help

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.