September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.

Doctor of Nursing Practice Specializing the Behavior and Mental Health with Greene County Medical Center Heather Wilson says suicides are the leading cause of death in the United States. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not only reporting a growing number of suicides, with an increase of 2.6 percent from 2021-2022, 12.3 million people seriously considered suicide in 2021 and of those, 1.7 million attempted suicide. 

Wilson notes when people see the warning signs of suicide they should have a serious conversation.

“Some of the warning signs is just recognizing them, talking to the person and being present. Knowing the risk factors and being able to identify them in people that you’re around and loved ones is important. Being alert to the signs of depression and other mental health conditions. If someone is directly having the thoughts of suicide being okay to ask them, be direct, and talk openly, and be matter-of-fact about suicide.” 

Wilson points out some of the individual factors of suicide includes feeling of hopelessness, previous attempts, having legal or money issues, violent and impulsive behavior, among others. She says societal factors can include being ashamed to ask for help, lack of access to resources for prevention, among others. 

She explains another aspect could be individuals who have known people that have died by suicide and ways they can find help.

“Finding a support group (and) being able to do what feels right to them. Sometimes that’s just doing things that you feel like you cope better with (along with) writing out your feelings, (and) asking for help. Sometimes I think making a safety plan is important also because of the higher risk that someone has when they’ve lost someone to suicide.”  

Wilson adds some of the supportive services for individuals who need help include yourlifeiowa.org, 988 is the National Suicide Hotline, an emergency room for assessment, mobile crisis, outpatient services and support groups.