HOPE THROUGH ACTION

September is Suicide Prevention Month.

Here are tools to help anyone who is struggling - including yourself.

Candlelight Vigil

Warnings, Risks, & How to React

How to Talk about Suicide

Urgent Support Resources

Holding onto Hope

Local Resources

ABOUT THE TOOLKIT

September is Suicide Prevention Month. This is a time to raise awareness of this stigmatized and often taboo topic. This month, we encourage you to shift perception, spread hope, and help normalize seeking help when you need it. This toolkit is a quick resource to find the tools that you or a loved one need to talk about suicide, prevent suicide, and support anyone (including yourself) who is having thoughts of suicide.

WHY DO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE?

Data from a 2023 Richland County survey of adults**

17%

experience frequent mental distress

21%

have been diagnosed with depression and suicidal ideation

27%

rated their access to mental or behavioral health services as "low" or "very low"

23%

reported getting all of the care they need

Suicide affects almost every one of us.

The more we know, the more we can help other people in our community.

RISK FACTORS FOR SUICIDE

There are many factors that put a person at risk of attempting suicide. Noteably, research has found that 46% of individuals who die by suicide had a known mental health condition.

COMMON RISK FACTORS

A family history of suicide
Substance use: Drugs can create mental highs and lows that worsen suicidal thoughts.
Intoxication: Analysis from the CDC indicates around 1 in 5 people who die by suicide had alcohol in their system at the time of death.
Access to firearms
A serious or chronic medical illness
Gender: Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are 4x more likely to die by suicide.
A history of trauma or abuse
Prolonged stress
A recent tragedy or loss

WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE

While suicide does not have one look, there are some common warning signs and behaviors that indicate risk of suicide.

Note: Suicidal Behaviors are a psychiatric emergency. Seek help immediately: Call the 988 hotline or call 911 and request a CIT officer. If you are unsure, a licensed mental health professional can help assess the situation.

WARNING SIGNS

Saying statements like "I wish I wasn't here" or "Nothing matters"
Increased alcohol and drug use
Aggressive behavior
Withdrawal from friends, family and community
Dramatic mood swings
Impulsive or reckless behavior

SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS*

Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
Giving away possessions
Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
Saying goodbye to friends and family

WHAT TO DO IN A CRISIS

If you or a loved one are in a crisis, it is important to address the situation quickly and effectively. For urgent support, call 911 and request a CIT officer, or call the 988 Lifeline or 419-522-HELP for the Catalyst Helpline.

Note: A mental health professional can help you evaluate the type of care needed.

CRISIS CONVERSATIONS

Talk openly and honestly. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like: “Do you have a plan for how you would kill yourself?”
Remove means such as guns, knives or stockpiled pills
Calmly ask simple and direct questions, like “Can I help you call your psychiatrist?”
If there are multiple people around, have one person speak at a time
Express support and concern
Don’t argue, threaten or raise your voice
Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong
If you’re nervous, try not to fidget or pace
Be patient

COMMON MYTHS OF SUICIDE

Debunking the common myths associated with suicide can help us be there for ourselves and others in our community who are struggling with their mental health. It is okay to speak about mental illness and suicide, and doing so will help erase any stigma that exists in our community.

MYTH

Suicide only affects individuals with a mental health condition.

FACT

Many individuals with mental illness are not affected by suicidal thoughts and not all people who attempt or die by suicide have mental illness. Many life stressors are also associated with suicidal thoughts and attempts.

ASKING SOMEONE ABOUT SUICIDE DOES NOT MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY TO HURT THEMSELVES.

WHEN WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOVED ONES OR OURSELVES, WE NEED TO START A CONVERSATION.

HOW TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT SUICIDE

Open conversations about suicide can go a long way.

Note: It's okay to talk about suicide. Talking to someone about suicide does not make them more likely to hurt themselves.

Learn More

BEFORE THE CONVERSATION

Acknowledge your own feelings and that this may be an uncomfortable conversation, and focus on compassion. Find resources, such as the 988 hotline, and decide where you will have the conversation

✓ Have resources at hand. Be prepared for a "yes" on the suicide question.

✓ Create a comfortable, private safe space.

✓ Acknowledge your own feelings and try to get centered before starting the conversation.

From NAMI.org

TIPS FOR STARTING A CONVERSATION ABOUT SUICIDE WITH A CHILD

Note: It's okay to talk to kids about suicide. Talking to someone about suicide does not make them more likely to hurt themselves.

Learn More

GET YOUR KID TALKING

Instead of forcing a conversation, find a time and a space that your child feels comfortable in and will want to talk in.

When you find this moment, ask your child how they are feeling. Listen to their answer and go deeper. Don't shrug off any emotions, and invite your child to share how they felt and acknowledge what they share.

From NAMI.org

HOW TO REACH OUT FOR HELP WHEN YOU ARE STRUGGLING

Learn More

EVALUATE THE SITUATION

What is the nature of your crisis? Is it something that requires treatment urgently?

If you have developed a plan to kill yourself, that is considered an immediate mental health crisis and you should go to a hospital emergency room or call 911 and request a CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) officer.

If you’re not sure if it’s urgent, ask yourself if you have already thought about what method you would use. If you’ve thought about where, how or when you would take your life, that means you’ve begun developing a plan.

If you’re still hesitating, ask a friend or family member to stay with you while you may be at risk. Call 988 or text "NAMI" to 741-741 to speak to trained individuals, and reach out to your mental health professionals.

From NAMI.org

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP

In a crisis, call 911 and request a CIT* officer.

*CIT = Crisis Intervention Team

Text or call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Text "NAMI" to 741-741 to talk to a crisis counselor

Call 419-522-HELP (4357) for the the local Catalyst Helpline

HOLDING ONTO HOPE FOR YOU

One of our best tools is one we already have: hope. The “hope theory,” written by positive psychologist Charles Snyder and his colleagues, shows that hope is one of the most important aspects to success. Hope gives us the will, determination, and sense of empowerment that allows us to reach our goals.

Hope is a learned response, so any of us can use it as a tool. Research into hope has shown that it is more useful than optimism or self-efficacy in supporting well-being.***

WHY SHOULD WE BE HOPEFUL?

Over a decade of research shows that people who are hopeful are more likely to...***

Have a strong sense of meaning and purpose

Attain their goals and do better academically

Choose healthier lifestyle habits

Cope with and recover better from illness

Experience higher life satisfaction

A large body of research on hope demonstrates its power to support well-being, even more so than optimism or self-efficacy (our belief in our own abilities).

NOTES OF HOPE

What gives you hope?

"I feel so much hope when I hear other people's stories.

I know that I'm not alone in what I'm feeling."

Written By Laura

Catalyst Warmline

Call 419-522-4636 for the local Catalyst warmline. This line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for or questions or concerns regarding mental health. This is for when you need help but are not in crisis.
Family Life Counseling & Psychiatric Services

Call 419-774-9969 for mental health and addiction services.
Healing Hearts Counseling Center

Call 419-528-5993 for testing for mental health, alcohol, drugs, and trauma.
NAMI Richland County

Call 419-522-6264, email Families@NAMIrc.org, or visit NAMIrc.org (this website) for mental health support, classes, and to be connected to the resource that you need.
33 Forever

Call 419-524-2700 for non-crisis related support for mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
Ohio Suicide Foundation

Visit www.ohiospf.org/ for connection to hope, help and suicide prevention resources
Richland County Mental Health Board

Call 419-522-7491 for the local mental health board.

Download the Resource Sheet

*Unless otherwise specified, information from this webpage is from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Learn more at NAMI.org.

**Data from Avita Health Services and Richland Public Health.

***Information from Newport Academy.

For Adults

For Youth (<22)

Get Help

Get Involved

HOPE THROUGH ACTION

ABOUT THE TOOLKIT

WHY DO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE?

17%

21%

27%

23%

RISK FACTORS FOR SUICIDE

WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE

WHAT TO DO IN A CRISIS

COMMON MYTHS OF SUICIDE

MYTH

FACT

ASKING SOMEONE ABOUT SUICIDE DOES NOT MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY TO HURT THEMSELVES.

WHEN WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOVED ONES OR OURSELVES, WE NEED TO START A CONVERSATION.

HOW TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT SUICIDE

BEFORE THE CONVERSATION

TIPS FOR STARTING A CONVERSATION ABOUT SUICIDE WITH A CHILD

GET YOUR KID TALKING

HOW TO REACH OUT FOR HELP WHEN YOU ARE STRUGGLING

EVALUATE THE SITUATION

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP

HOLDING ONTO HOPE FOR YOU

WHY SHOULD WE BE HOPEFUL?

NOTES OF HOPE

For Adults

For Youth (<22)

Get Help

Get Involved

HOPE THROUGH ACTION

ABOUT THE TOOLKIT

WHY DO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT SUICIDE?

17%

21%

27%

23%

WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE

ASKING SOMEONE ABOUT SUICIDE DOES NOT MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY TO HURT THEMSELVES. ​ WHEN WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOVED ONES OR OURSELVES, WE NEED TO START A CONVERSATION.

HOW TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT SUICIDE

BEFORE THE CONVERSATION

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP

HOLDING ONTO HOPE FOR YOU

WHY SHOULD WE BE HOPEFUL?

NOTES OF HOPE

ASKING SOMEONE ABOUT SUICIDE DOES NOT MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY TO HURT THEMSELVES.

WHEN WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOVED ONES OR OURSELVES, WE NEED TO START A CONVERSATION.