Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Recognizing the Signs and Starting the Conversation
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness, reducing stigma, encouraging conversations about mental health, and helping people understand where they can turn for support.
Conversations about suicide can be uncomfortable. Many people worry that they will say the wrong thing, make a situation worse, or overreact when someone they care about begins behaving differently.
But avoiding the subject does not make emotional distress disappear.
Learning to recognize potential warning signs, being willing to ask difficult questions, and helping someone connect with appropriate support can make an important difference.
Emotional Struggles Are Not Always Easy to See
Someone who is experiencing serious emotional distress may not necessarily appear to be in crisis.
They may continue going to work, attending school, raising children, spending time with friends, or meeting everyday responsibilities.
From the outside, their life may look completely normal.
Privately, however, they may be experiencing intense depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, loneliness, relationship difficulties, financial pressure, substance use, or feelings of hopelessness.
This is one reason mental health concerns can sometimes go unnoticed.
Rather than waiting for someone to explicitly say they are struggling, it can be helpful to pay attention to meaningful changes in their usual behavior, mood, or relationships.
Recognizing Potential Warning Signs
There is no single behavior that automatically means someone is thinking about suicide. However, certain changes can indicate that a person is experiencing serious emotional distress.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, warning signs can include talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless or trapped, believing they are a burden to others, withdrawing from friends or family, giving away important possessions, displaying extreme mood changes, taking unusual risks, or significantly changing sleeping or eating habits. Increased use of alcohol or drugs can also be a warning sign.
These behaviors are particularly concerning when they are new, becoming more frequent, or appear after a painful event, major loss, relationship breakup, health problem, financial difficulty, or other significant life change.
The important thing is not to diagnose someone based on a checklist.
Instead, recognize when someone you know seems significantly different and be willing to check in.
Starting the Conversation
Many people hesitate to ask someone about their emotional well-being because they do not know what to say.
The conversation does not have to be complicated.
You might begin with:
“I’ve noticed that you haven’t seemed like yourself lately. How are you doing?”
“You seem like you’ve been carrying a lot recently. Do you want to talk about it?”
“I’ve noticed you’ve been pulling away from everyone. I’m concerned about you.”
What matters most is showing genuine concern and creating space for an honest answer.
If the person begins talking, try to listen without immediately attempting to solve the problem.
Avoid telling them that they should be grateful, that other people have worse problems, or that they simply need to think positively.
Those responses are often well-intentioned, but they can make someone feel that their emotions are being minimized.
Instead, acknowledge what they are experiencing.
You might say:
“That sounds incredibly difficult.”
“I’m glad you told me.”
“I care about what happens to you.”
“You don’t have to deal with this alone.”
Sometimes being heard without judgment can be an important first step toward seeking additional help.
It Is Okay to Ask Directly About Suicide
One common fear is that asking someone whether they are considering suicide might introduce the idea or make them more likely to act on it.
Research does not support that concern.
The National Institute of Mental Health states that asking someone directly about suicidal thoughts does not cause or increase those thoughts. Directly asking, “Are you thinking about suicide?” can help identify someone who may be at risk and open the door to getting help.
If you have serious concerns about someone, it is okay to be direct.
You do not have to find a perfect way to phrase the question.
What matters is that the person understands that you are asking because you care and are prepared to listen to the answer.
Take Any Talk of Suicide Seriously
Comments about suicide should never be dismissed as someone being dramatic, seeking attention, or simply having a bad day.
Statements such as “Everyone would be better off without me,” “There’s no point anymore,” or “I wish I wasn’t here” deserve attention.
The same is true if someone directly says that they want to die or are thinking about suicide.
According to NIMH, suicidal thoughts or behaviors are signs of extreme distress and should be taken seriously.
If someone tells you that they are planning to kill themselves, do not leave them alone. Help them connect with immediate crisis or emergency support.
In the United States, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling 988, texting 988, or using the online chat at https://988lifeline.org/chat/.
Helping Someone Connect With Support
You do not need to become someone’s therapist in order to support them.
In fact, one of the most helpful things you can do may be connecting them with people who are trained to provide appropriate care.
You might offer to help them contact a mental health professional, reach out to a trusted family member, or connect with crisis support.
If they already have a counselor, psychiatrist, physician, or other mental health provider, encourage them to make contact.
For someone who feels emotionally overwhelmed, even making a phone call or scheduling an appointment can feel difficult. Offering to sit with them while they make the call or helping them identify available resources may make the next step feel more manageable.
NIMH recommends five general actions when supporting someone experiencing suicidal thoughts: ask directly, be present, help keep the person safe, connect them with support, and follow up afterward.
Continue Checking In
Support should not necessarily end after one conversation.
A person may feel supported immediately after opening up and then feel isolated again several days later.
Follow up.
Send a text.
Make a phone call.
Invite them to coffee or dinner.
Ask how their appointment went.
Let them know you remembered what they shared.
Ongoing supportive contact can be an important part of suicide prevention, particularly after someone has experienced a crisis.
You do not need to have a profound conversation every time.
Sometimes simply communicating, “I was thinking about you and wanted to see how you’re doing,” can reinforce that the person is not alone.
Why People Sometimes Hide Emotional Pain
People may conceal emotional struggles for many reasons.
Some worry about being judged.
Others do not want to burden their family or friends.
Someone who is normally viewed as strong, successful, dependable, or responsible may feel especially uncomfortable admitting that they are struggling.
Others may believe that their problems are not serious enough to justify professional help.
This can lead people to continue functioning outwardly while becoming increasingly overwhelmed internally.
Mental health struggles do not have to reach a crisis point before someone deserves support.
Persistent depression, anxiety, hopelessness, substance use, trauma symptoms, overwhelming stress, or significant changes in behavior are all legitimate reasons to speak with a mental health professional.
Counseling Does Not Have to Begin During a Crisis
Suicide prevention is not only about responding when someone is in immediate danger.
It also means addressing emotional and mental health concerns before they reach that point.
Counseling can provide a confidential space for individuals to talk about thoughts and emotions they may be uncomfortable discussing with family or friends.
Therapy may help someone understand patterns contributing to depression or anxiety, process traumatic experiences or grief, strengthen coping skills, improve relationships, address substance use, and develop healthier ways of responding to overwhelming situations.
Someone does not need to know exactly what is wrong before making an appointment.
Sometimes the starting point is simply being able to say, “I’m having a hard time, and what I’m doing isn’t working anymore.”
Reducing the Stigma Around Asking for Help
One of the purposes of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is to normalize conversations about mental health and seeking support.
We generally do not expect someone with a significant physical health problem to simply overcome it through determination.
Mental health deserves the same consideration.
Talking with a counselor is not an indication that someone has failed to manage their life.
It can be a proactive step toward understanding what is happening and developing healthier ways of moving forward.
The more openly communities talk about mental health, the easier it can become for someone who is struggling to say, “I need help.”
One Conversation Can Matter
You do not have to be a mental health professional to make a difference in someone’s life.
Notice changes.
Ask questions.
Listen without judgment.
Take concerning statements seriously.
Help the person connect with appropriate support.
And continue checking in.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides an opportunity to remind ourselves that conversations about mental health should not be limited to September.
People need connection, compassion, and access to support throughout the year.
Empower Professional Counseling Services provides confidential virtual counseling to individuals throughout Florida. Our counselors work with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, stress, relationship difficulties, and challenging life transitions.
If you or someone you care about has been struggling emotionally, professional support may be an important next step.
To learn more about counseling or request an appointment, call 850-328-4464 or visit empowerprofessionalcounseling.com.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress and needs immediate support, call 988, text 988, or use the 988 Lifeline’s online chat at https://988lifeline.org/chat/.
This article is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace individualized mental health treatment, crisis intervention, or emergency care.