September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Courtesy of The MLO Minute: By Allyson McAndrews, M.Ed., Director of Marketing and Community Outreach

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month – a period dedicated to educating and destigmatizing a topic that is often very challenging to talk about.

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the United States among people ages 10-34. It is the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S., and in 2019, over 47,500 Americans died by suicide.

These statistics are troubling and emphasize the need for change surrounding this public health concern. It is important to know that suicidal thoughts can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, economic status, etc., and warning signs of suicidal behavior should never be ignored.