(HOWARD, SD) – September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It highlights the importance of connecting friends and family members with the right kind of support to help someone you love find the path to healing.
In 2022, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported that suicide was the 11th leading cause of death. That year 49,400 people were victims of suicide. It was the second leading cause of death among people 10-14 years old and the third among those 15-24. These numbers are staggering but there is hope. Raising awareness of resources and early warning signs can help prevent the unthinkable.
Horizon Health offers behavioral health services across its 28,000-mile footprint via the TeleHome program. This allows patients to receive care in the privacy of their own home or a secure clinic setting. Our providers understand the unique mental health challenges that can affect their patients. The CDC lists social isolation, economic insecurity, stigma and cultural factors and access to firearms as risk factors that affect those living in rural areas. Horizon’s telehealth program eliminates one risk factor – limited access to mental health services.
“Our Horizon behavioral health providers are experienced counselors who understand the unique challenges of rural life — including the stress and anxiety that can come from close-knit communities and the demands of working in a farming-driven economy,” said Jackie Genzlinger, Horizon Health Director of Behavioral Health.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, it’s important to remember that suicide is preventable. Combining knowledge, care and compassion can make an impact. Knowing the warning signs of suicide can save lives.
Things to look for according to the National Institute of Mental Health are:
- Talking about wanting to die, great guilt or shame, being a burden to others
- Feeling empty, hopeless, trapped or having no reason to live
- Extreme sadness, an increase in anxiety, agitation, being full of rage
- Unbearable emotional or physical pain
- Changing behavior such as planning or researching ways to die
- Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving important items away or making a will
- Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
- Extreme mood swings
- Eating or sleeping more or less
- An increase in alcohol and drug use
If these signs apply to someone you know, seek help immediately either from Horizon or by calling or texting 988, which is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
When interacting with a friend or family member struggling with their mental health, try to provide non-judgmental support. Actively listen when they tell you how they are feeling. Validate their feelings and let them know they are not alone.
Consider these additional suggestions from the Council for Mental Wellbeing on supporting someone who is experiencing a mental health issue:
- Listen without judgment – Create a safe space for your friend or loved one to express themselves. Use phrases like “That sounds really hard” to show you’re listening and understanding.
- Give reassurance and information – Share stories of hope while letting them know that it’s OK to feel what they are feeling.
- Encourage appropriate professional help – The sooner someone seeks professional help the more support they can find for their recovery. You can offer to help them find a resource or go with them to their first appointment.
- Encourage self-help and support strategies –Talk to them about resources in the community.
- Check in regularly and offer practical help – Call or text to ask how they’re doing. This shows support and connection, which reminds them they are not alone. Offer to help with daily tasks like grocery shopping that may seem overwhelming when they are unwell.
- Learn about mental health challenges – This will help give you tools to offer better support.
- Be patient – It takes time to recover from mental health challenges. Let them know you are there for them now and in the future.
- Be mindful of your language – Certain words or phrases may sound dismissive of their experiences. Let them know what they are feeling is OK.
One of the best things about the rural lifestyle is the community built by the people who live in small towns. Learning more about mental health and being alert to changes in people you interact with regularly could help them find the support and hope they need to pursue greater wellbeing.
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About Horizon Health
For over 45 years, Horizon Health has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and behavioral health care through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and behavioral health needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through over 80,000 patient visits annually in 27 community health centers. For more information, please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.