Mental health is detrimental to our well-being, and September brings the struggles of mental illness to light. September marks the beginning of Suicide Prevention Awareness month in order to destigmatize the misconceptions surrounding suicide. For years, suicide has been seen as a selfish act. The thought of taking your own life and harming the others around you in the process has been used to condemn victims. The truth is that suicide is not a selfish act, nor is it a choice. 

People usually only care about how suicide affects the living members close to the victim instead of the victim who had been suffering for months, or years beforehand. While their emotions matter through difficult times of loss, the fact that the victim felt so hopeless and lost that the only way they could escape these feelings was by ending their own life takes precedence. The individual didn’t want to leave this earth, they just wanted to end the constant flow of negativity from their life. 

When this tragedy happens, people commonly say that the victim should’ve reached out and told someone they trusted, but when the person has little regard for their life, it’s hard for them to imagine anyone feeling anything but the same way. Additionally, if the person couldn’t get the resources they needed or were ridiculed for their emotions before, it’s unlikely that they would try to reach out for help again as they know they’ll be denied and possibly send them even deeper into the pitfall known as depression. Suicide victims or attempters also frequently feel as though they’re a burden and would be doing their loved ones a favor, which is far from the truth. If you want to aid the people around you who are struggling with these difficult feelings, push them in a helpful direction and offer a safe space to them. Tell them that you’re open to talking about their feelings and happy to assist them in finding healthy ways to cope or get help. 

Mental health is essential, especially in these past years when everyone has been isolated. Be sure to take care of yourself and the people around you. If you or someone you know are feeling depressed or leaning towards suicidal tendencies, do not hesitate to reach out to someone. Whether it be a friend, a staff member at CHS, or a parent, they would be more than willing to listen to what you have to say and help with whatever needs to happen. There are many resources available to you, and if you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone you know, there is a hotline for suicide prevention. The number is 988 and someone is always a text or call away. Reach out and don’t be afraid to admit that you need support.