September is National Suicide Prevention Month – a month to remember the lives lost to suicide, the millions of people who have struggled with suicidal ideation, and acknowledge the individuals, families, and communities that have been impacted. For All Seasons is sponsoring two No Matter What…You Matter Suicide Prevention Speaker Series Events that are free to the public. We All Have a Role to Play in Suicide Prevention: Empowering Our Community with Hope & Readiness Dr. Andrew Moon, Department of Defense Office of Force Resiliency Thursday, September 5, 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Packing House in Cambridge, MD Be a Lifeline: Recognizing and Responding to Those at Risk for Suicide Dr. Jeff Thompson, Research Psychologist at Columbia University Medical Center and Retired NYPD Detective Wednesday, September 11, 2024, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD
For All Seasons’ No Matter What…You Matter Suicide Prevention Campaign's goal is to prevent suicide on Maryland's Eastern Shore through education and increased access to crisis resources. Suicide is a leading cause of death on the Eastern Shore and in the United States. 90% of those who died by suicide had a diagnosable mental health condition.
Suicide touches whole communities. As a community, we can all play a role in suicide prevention by checking in, listening, and connecting those in need of professional help. Each person who dies by suicide leaves behind people who knew that person, along with the impact of suicide and the bereavement that follows.
The causes of suicide are complex and determined by multiple combinations of factors, such as mental illness, substance misuse, painful losses, exposure to violence, and social isolation. Symptoms are different between adults and youth. To learn more, visit https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicidal-behavior. To start with, however, you can check in with someone, as it could help save a life.
If someone you know is showing signs of depression, withdrawal, or unusual behavior – take time to check-in. Reach out to your circle of friends and family. Be attentive to those with whom you have concerns and connect them to resources. There are proven treatments to help those with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Someone experiencing a crisis may not recognize that suicidal thoughts are often temporary, and with professional support, hope and healing are within their reach.
Friends and family members can help play a role in suicide prevention by reaching out to those within their circle:
ASK “Are you OK? Are you having suicidal thoughts?”
Be direct and compassionate. Research shows that asking this question will not put the idea into someone’s mind.
LISTEN You don’t need to have all the answers.
Be fully present without judgment. Allow the person to share their story.
SHARE “You are not alone. Help is available.”
Connect them to services. For All Seasons is just a phone call away.
For All Seasons speaker series will share with participants key risk factors and warning signs of suicide; clarify and separate common myths from facts about suicide; and provide practical tips for everyone, regardless of background, to help reduce suicide risks, leaving attendees with the hope, readiness, and strategies to make a difference in their community. The agency will also distribute suicide prevention rack cards to local businesses and others throughout the community to help with its awareness campaign.
For All Seasons provides 24-hour crisis hotlines, same-day crisis appointments, and expert mental health services for anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay. Most importantly, if you need suicide prevention resources and a step-by-step conversation guide or for information about the upcoming speaker series, visit http://NoMatterWhatYouMatter.org. For All Seasons’ 24-Hour Crisis Hotlines are English 410.820.5600 and Español 410.829.6143. English/Español Text is 410.829.6143. For the National Suicide & Crisis Hotline: Dial 988.
For All Seasons Behavioral Health & Rape Crisis Center offers a range of mental health and crisis services to Maryland’s Eastern Shore. As the Mid-Shore’s only Rape Crisis Center, the agency provides advocacy, counseling, and education about sexual violence to over 200,000 residents.
