Suicide Prevention Month: Pay Attention to Each Other

September is Suicide Prevention Month.

There are statistics to share, warning signs to learn and resources that everyone should know. But there is also something each of us can do that doesn't require special training or a particular title.

We can pay attention to each other.

Life gets busy. Between work, family, responsibilities and everything competing for our attention, it's easy to pass people every day without really knowing how they're doing.

Sometimes checking in matters more than we realize.

Make the phone call you've been meaning to make. Send the text. Invite someone to lunch. Sit down and listen without feeling like you have to have all the answers. Ask someone how they're doing and give them enough time to actually answer.

And don't assume someone is okay simply because they appear strong.

A Few Words Can Matter

Kindness doesn't always require a grand gesture. Sometimes it's simply making sure another person knows:

I see you.
I'm glad you're here.
You matter to me.

We may never know how much those words mean to someone at exactly the moment they need to hear them.

Suicide prevention is bigger than one month, one campaign or one conversation. It's about creating communities where people know they are valued, where asking for help is met with compassion and where we make an effort to notice one another.

Help Is Available

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can call, text or chat with 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

You don't have to wait until a situation reaches a crisis point to reach out. The 988 Lifeline is also available for people experiencing emotional distress or simply needing someone to talk to.

Throughout September, Oklahoma's Choice Weekly will continue sharing suicide prevention information and resources as part of our commitment to the communities we serve.

This month, and every month, let's be a little more intentional.

Make the call. Send the text. Have the conversation.

Take care of each other.