By Mark Green
Guest Columnist
September is coming to a close and so is National Suicide Prevention Month. For many people, September is a difficult time of the year. The month marks the worst terrorist attack on American soil, leaving families with a reminder of the loss of loved ones. For our service members, it’s the anniversary of the declaration of the global war on terror and a two-decade conflict. For many more, we’ve been through the effects of war, multiple natural disasters, and a global pandemic; September just sucks. As the month ends, and the national focus on suicide prevention eases up, keep one thing in mind if you ever find yourself struggling with your own internal battles: you’re not alone.
You’re not alone. You don’t have to bear the weight all by yourself. It’s easy to feel lost in a storm when you’re struggling with pain of any kind, and the burden of your struggles can get heavy when the only person carrying them is you. Reaching out for help is never a sign of weakness; instead, it shows a great strength to admit when a person’s limits have been reached, but they aren’t willing to give up.
This isn’t a comfortable subject to broach, I know. I’m grateful that it is an uncomfortable subject, however. The topic of suicide shouldn’t be a frivolous one, nor should it rest easy on anyone’s mind. My guess is there isn’t a person who is reading this column who isn’t familiar with it. We’ve all lost someone close to us who was fighting a battle no one could see; some of us almost lost our own battles. It’s paramount that we put more value on life, our own including, if we’re to change this.
988 — these three digits are known as the “988 Lifeline,” and using that number routes callers to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The goal of this phone number, which transitioned from a 10-digit dialing code back in 2022, was to give people easier access to help while simplifying the access to that aid, much in the same way 911 is used for an emergency. The Lifeline works utilizing a network that has been in operation since 2005, linking over 200 clinics together with trained counselors who are available to help support the need. The hotline even offers specialized categories that focus on veteran care, Spanish-speaking callers, and the needs of the LGBTQI+ community.
You’re not alone. I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but I want to drive the message home. I’ve had my struggles, too, and at my lowest point I thought no one would understand what I was going through. I didn’t think life could get better for me. I simply felt lost at sea. Thankfully, I reached out for help and was able to get support through my own obstacles, and in doing so, I realized that I had an entire community of people to gather with who could empathize with me.
I’m not here to list the stats from a suicide prevention website; that’s not the point of the article. I don’t believe showing the numbers of how many people are struggling does any good in helping an individual heal from their own pain. The goal here has been singular: offer an option to someone—anyone—who might be fighting demons no one else can see. This is for you. Your life has value; I promise. You are loved; believe me. You can win this; I believe in you. I’ve been down at the bottom before, myself. It’s not a good place to be. It’s dark, and it’s heavy. But I know that when you get to the bottom, there’s only one way to go, and that’s up.
If you’re struggling, talk to someone. Remember that you can’t move forward by staying exactly where you are, and in order to move forward you need to take a step. That first step isn’t always the easiest, but having someone help you with your struggles is much better than shouldering the burden by yourself. You’re worth it, and you’re never alone.
Call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Hotline, if you are having thoughts of harming yourself, are concerned about someone you care about, or are in need of emotional support.
