Students and Teachers Come Together to Spread Awareness Regarding Suicide Prevention Month
SJHHS School Counselors visit 10th grade history classes to educate students on the importance of Suicide Prevention month.
September 27, 2022
Content Warning: The following story discusses sensitive topics related to suicide.
During the month of September, communities come together to spread awareness about the topic of Suicide Prevention. Suicide has notoriously been known as an uncomfortable subject for many which is why the goal of this month is to emphasize the heaviness of suicide and the importance of opening up about it.
In 2020, men in the United States died of suicide 3.88 times more than women according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The main reason behind this shocking statistic is that men feel discouraged by today’s society to open up about their emotions, said Kathleen Levinson, a counselor at SJHHS. Furthermore, this common stereotyping of men as emotionless robots has forced many to feel trapped, alone, and hopeless; a stigma that is outdated and incredibly harmful.
Academics piled on top of athletic engagements has caused many students athlete’s mental health to decrease exponentially. Katie Meyer, a senior goalkeeper at Stanford University, died because of suicide in March of 2022. The pressure many teens face with sports is a prevalent issue in today’s society. There are elevated levels of stress, pressure, exhaustion, and even loneliness among student athletes because of their constant struggle in juggling their vigorous schedules. However, not nearly enough of them seek help when they are feeling overwhelmed.
Something that we as a society must keep in mind is that suicide is preventable. Some early signs include:
- Displaying extreme mood swings such as guilt, shame, and/or regret
- Feeling like a burden
- Wanting to die
- Eating or sleeping more or less
- Using drugs or alcohol more often
- Taking dangerous risks
- Withdrawing from friends and old interests
- Unbearable emotional or physical pain
Opening up about suicide should be normalized rather than avoided in today’s society. If you or anyone you know is thinking about harming themselves or others, never hesitate to speak up; everyone has the right to be heard. Suicide is preventable.
Resources:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988
See Something, Say Something (Anonymous) – TEXT 1-844-572-9669
OC Suicide Prevention Crisis Hotline: 1-877-727-4747
Trevor Lifeline (specialized support for LGBTQ+ youth): 1-866-488-4657
