To reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, suicide prevention and awareness must go on after September, also known as National Suicide Prevention Month.
The month was established in 2008 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization.
According to The Jed Foundation, 22% of high schoolers seriously considered suicide in 2023.
Out of an estimated 15.4 million students, this is almost three million students nationwide.
To put that number into perspective, there are about 2,000 students at Souderton Area High School, and about 100 would fall under this category.
So many people are impacted by this daily, yet many choose not to think about them after September ends.
Society has normalized the fact that teens are affected by depression and suicidal ideation so much that it’s almost expected at this point.
An example of this is casually implementing suicide-related phrases in everyday speech.
People don’t realize the impact that suicide-related jokes and comments have on a struggling individual.
Casual comments such as, “this assignment makes me want to jump off a bridge,” undermine the urgency for someone to get help as it normalizes the feeling.
This is often disguised as “dark humor,” and anyone who speaks out against it is deemed too “sensitive.”
A thick and broad line exists between something considered “dark humor” and straight-up offensive.
Surprisingly enough, people don’t understand the power words can hold.
This is especially crucial in a high school environment.
According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2024, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people aged 14-18.
Although this is true, suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background.
This is why we need to normalize talking about suicide and making those affected heard.
In most cases, suicidal ideation stems from major depressive disorder.
Depression is more than just being sad, it’s a clinically recognized disorder that can greatly impact an individual’s ability to function normally.
In some cases, it’s also recognized as a disability by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The amount of stigma surrounding depression and suicidal thoughts is another reason people don’t allow themselves to reach out for help.
This shame that society brings affects an individual’s self-esteem and view of themselves, as well as their opportunities for work, school and social activities and can cause trouble finding housing.
In a survey by the University of Tsukuba, 30.7% agreed that a weak personality causes depression.
This is not true.
Depression is not at all a character flaw or a personal weakness.
Although personality traits can affect it, depression has no single cause.
According to the National Health Service England, depression can be triggered by multiple things, including a traumatic or upsetting event.
Reducing stigma will open up doors for people who are struggling.
Some ways we can all help would be to talk openly about mental health, be conscious of the language we use and educate ourselves and others.
Using non-stigmatizing, clinically accurate terminology eliminates the possibility of evoking negative emotions based entirely on connotation.
Everyone plays a part in helping overcome the stigma surrounding suicide.
It’s important for people to spread the suicide awareness message, whether it is during the designated month of September or not.