Preventing suicide means providing support and getting resources to those who need it | Opinion

Suicide ranks as the 10th leading cause of death overall and the second leading cause among adolescents and young adults aged 15-24. Since 2018, Broward County has seen an increase of death by suicide among 18-25-year-olds.

With September being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the community needs to reflect on how to openly discuss the topic to help reduce the stigma and support those who may be struggling.

The Broward Suicide Prevention Coalition was created in 2019 as a collaborative coalition with representation from some 50 local agencies, including mental health, law enforcement, education, hospitals and the business community. The coalition gathers key stakeholders across these sectors and fields to work together on a strategic mission of reaching a zero suicides in Broward County.

This is all in the face of increased suicide attempts, incidents of self-harm and levels of depression and anxiety. A death by suicide affects more than the individual who tragically dies, including the family, friends and even the first responders who respond to these calls.

When a person is experiencing mental health challenges, they must have the help, resources and support necessary to guide them and move forward past those thoughts to receive help. Please take a moment to reflect and know the warning signs of suicide. These signs include seeing someone showing feelings of despair or hopelessness, loss of interest in things that used to give them joy, excessive drug/alcohol use, becoming withdrawn, isolating themselves or recently having experienced or sustained traumatic life events. The best way to find out if someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts is to ask them directly.

Mental health challenges can affect a person’s mood, behaviors and even their cognitive functioning. While some individuals can have healthy coping mechanisms, many people often struggle to find proactive methods for their emotional turmoil or unresolved trauma. For any stressful situation, talk about the feelings you have, provide an open dialogue, and promote the fact that it is OK to talk about feelings of stress, isolation and anxiety.

The United Way of Broward County has partnered with the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition and the Florida Department of Children and Families to prioritize mental health struggles in its county-wide “It’s OK to not be OK” initiative and the 988 hotline. The goal is to provide an outlet of support for the community facing challenges with mental health, or any feelings of stress, isolation and anxiety.

Let’s remember that the strength of a community lies in its ability to come together and support one another. By prioritizing and making these resources available for suicide prevention, we can create a safer and more compassionate society where everyone feels valued and heard. Together, we can make a difference and save lives.

Suicide prevention resources:

• Call the 988 suicide and crisis hotline if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts. Trained counselors provide each caller with guidance and free resources that will help in most situations.
• You can also contact 211 Broward Crisis and Suicide Care Support at 211-broward.org.
• United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention’s website, drugfreebroward.org, also provides a support and prevention resource center with tool kits that provide support for mental and behavioral health issues.
• Postvention Support for Suicide Survivors is available through the Local Outreach for Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team and provides survivor support groups and a Purple Packet Resource Guide. For more information, please call 954-746-2055, ext. 134 or email LOSS@mhasefl.org.

Kathleen Cannon is the president and CEO of United Way of Broward County.