It's National Suicide Prevention Month.

The month is September, it’s the time to spread awareness about people struggling with suicide or who have family/friends that are struggling. This is a very sensitive topic to most, but it is essential that we talk about this. Palisade Student, Brooklyn Kelley said, “it gets awareness out, you can focus on your friends and just check up on them, making sure they’re okay.” According to CDC, “This year in Colorado alone we have lost 1,302 people due to suicide.” This is a big deal. It can affect so many people at once and cause a ripple effect by that I mean others can struggle with anger, guilt, and confusion this can elevate others' levels of stress and depression. How can I help someone? Signs of suicide are easy to miss but should be taken very seriously. Some are obvious like talking about harming themselves or dying in general, some are more subtle. Like emotional distancing and unusual changes in behavior. Brooklyn said “You can help someone struggling by having a deep conversation with them and reaching out to them without causing a fight.” According to CDC, there is a death to suicide almost every 11 minutes. Some groups of people even have higher suicide rates than others. In the United States, Veterans, people with jobs like mining and construction, and people who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community have a higher rate of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Why is that? There are many answers to this question. Many think it’s because they think there’s no point in being in this world anymore, even when many care for them. Let’s help each other this month and keep an eye out for someone that is struggling.