When it comes to mental health wellness, we all have a part to play. People who don’t have a diagnosable mental health disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder, can still struggle with their mental health from time to time. That’s why allyship can be such a powerful tool in the awareness and treatment of mental health concerns, such as suicide. You don’t need to have challenges, like suicidality, to want to contribute to the betterment of those who do.

People who are at risk for suicide or have suicidal ideation may be experiencing overwhelmingly negative thoughts and emotions. These can make it difficult for them to take a step back and look at these patterns from a different perspective. That’s when allies can step in.

If you’re looking for ways that you can help suicide prevention, we’re here to discuss efforts that can have a positive impact on people who are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

5 ways that you can help suicide prevention efforts

More than 700,000 people around the world take their lives every year. There’s also a much larger number of people who attempt to kill themselves but survive. That’s why suicide prevention efforts are so important. With effective mental health allyship, people who are struggling with suicidality can see that there are people on their side and resources available to help them work toward a fulfilling future.

Helping suicide prevention is such an important effort that it can almost feel like too big an undertaking — but there are many attainable, realistic steps that you can take. Those steps can build up to a significant positive impact. Whether it be helping a specific person in your life or many people in your community, you can make a difference.

Here are five ways that you can be a mental health ally and contribute to suicide prevention efforts:

• Know the warning signs — Education plays a vital role in suicide prevention. Learn about the symptoms of suicidality and the warning signs that someone is considering taking their own life. Common signs include increased irritability, hopelessness, expressions of feeling trapped, extreme mood swings, withdrawing from loved ones, and carrying out risky behaviors, such as reckless driving. By knowing what signs to look out for in people in your life, you can know when it’s time to step in.
• Talk with honesty and patience — If you’re concerned about someone in your life exhibiting warning signs of suicide, having an open and honest conversation can go a long way. Asking them, “Are you thinking about suicide?” may seem too blunt or invasive, but it directly addresses the potential issue. You want to prevent them from trying to brush off the seriousness of the conversation. Then, give them a safe space to open up about their feelings. Strive to be an active, empathetic listener. You can also provide ongoing, sustained support with continual check-ins after the initial conversation.
• Reduce access to means — An essential step in preventing suicide for someone in your life is to take away the tools they would need to carry out an attempt or self-harm. This can mean safely storing medications, getting rid of nonprescription medicines, and preventing access to weapons, such as firearms or sharp objects. This can also mean ensuring that they aren’t alone when they’re at risk to themselves or in a crisis.
• Recommend treatment — If someone is having thoughts about taking their own life, they should find treatment as soon as possible. If their suicidality is occurring alongside symptoms of a mental health disorder, such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, encourage them to book an appointment with a psychologist or look into an intensive outpatient program. If they discuss plans or a desire to kill themselves, they should be admitted into an inpatient treatment center for 24/7 supervision and care. 
• Look into organizations and helplines — If you want to help more than just the people closest to you, there are many suicide prevention efforts that you can explore in your community. This can mean everything from volunteering at a warmline in your area to raising money for a local mental health organization. There’s always room for more hands on deck and voices of support.

Lightfully Behavioral Health provides mental health allyship to help suicide prevention

Everyone can contribute in some way to helping improve the mental health of themselves and those around them. You can promote mental health awareness in the workplace, schools and communities by helping normalize conversations about mental health and encourage more people to seek the right resources. From asking someone if they need to talk to destigmatizing the subject with open communication, every effort counts. Suicide prevention shouldn’t be taken lightly. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself, know when to step in and guide people in the right direction.

If you know someone who’s showing signs of suicidality, our levels of care at Lightfully can support them along their mental health journey. Whether they’re transitioning from an inpatient treatment center after a crisis or they want to address a mental health disorder contributing to their suicidal ideation, we provide evidence-based and whole-person-centered care.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to help someone take the first step to preventing suicide, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of them.