September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Join us to spread awareness about suicide prevention and resources available to help.
Evidence shows there are five action steps you can take to help prevent suicide:
- Ask - Asking the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” communicates that you’re open to speaking about suicide in a non-judgmental and supportive way.
- Be There - This could mean being physically present for someone, speaking with them on the phone when you can, or any other way that shows support for the person at risk.
- Help Keep Them Safe - After the “Ask” step, and you’ve determined suicide is indeed being talked about, it’s important to establish immediate safety.
- Help Them Connect - Helping someone with thoughts of suicide connect with ongoing supports (like the 988 Lifeline) can help them establish a safety net for those moments they find themselves in a crisis.
- Follow Up - After your initial contact with a person experiencing thoughts of suicide, and after you’ve connected them with the immediate support systems they need, make sure to follow-up with them to see how they’re doing.
Learn more about how and why the five steps can help: BeThe1To.com
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
Call, chat or text 24/7: 988 | 988lifeline.org.
Community Resources
- El Dorado County Behavioral Health, 24-hour crisis line: 530.544.2219
- Tahoe Youth & Family Services, 24-hour crisis line: 800.870.8937
- Live Violence Free, 24-hour crisis line: 530.544.4444
- NAMI Support Group: 530.306.4101/ NAMI.org
- Suicide Prevention Network: 775.783.1510
Or view a list of Barton Health and other local Behavioral Health resources.