September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a crisis, call or text 988 to reach a suicide & crisis hotline.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness month; a time to bring awareness to an often-controversial topic. During this month many like to educate the masses on how mental health conditions, and other factors, can cause suicidal thoughts to become more prevalent for individuals of all ages, genders, or backgrounds. Although common, suicidal thoughts are not normal and should be taken seriously.
This month, Adoptions From The Heart joins other sources to spread facts, vital information, and resources. By sharing information on our social media platforms, we hope to help individuals gain the resources they need to have healthy conversations about suicide prevention.
As an adoption agency, many may ask why we choose to speak about Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the answer is simple. As an agency, our sole goal is to ensure that we are supporting the triad at all stages. Once you become a part of the AFTH family, we want to continue supporting families regardless of the circumstances. As great as adoption is, it is a traumatic event that causes many adoptees to struggle with depression, identity issues, feelings of abandonment even when they have a supportive adoptive family, and many other struggles.
Adoptees are at an increased risk of suicide, as they are four times more likely to attempt suicide than non-adopted children. This statistic is extremely jarring because adoption tends to be viewed as a “win-win” situation. Yet, this statistic shows that adoption impacts so much more than people realize, regardless of an agency or parents’ efforts to do things ethically and on the right side of the scale. Knowing this information, and how much adoptees may deal with suicidal thoughts, we want to provide tools and resources that can help someone struggling with suicidal thoughts and help others support those having mental health challenges.
A huge resource that many find valuable is hotlines or 24-hour chats. Several organizations provide 24-hour access to support via phone call, text, or their chat feature. Two great organizations are the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the 988 Lifeline. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is an alliance of 600 local affiliates who work to raise awareness and provide support and education on mental illness. 988 Lifeline is a 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress. This is a hotline that provides constant support and guidance for those experiencing a mental health crisis. If you or a loved one needs to contact someone for help, dial or text 988 to access the Lifeline hotline. Additionally, you can text NAMI at 741-741, or call 1-800-950 (6264) to access the National Alliance on Mental Illness hotline.
As well as sharing hotlines to contact, we want to share ways that family and friends can support someone struggling with suicidal thoughts. A support system is extremely important, especially if someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. Our first tip is to take their thoughts and comments seriously. No matter the age of someone, if they are having suicidal thoughts, their thoughts and feelings should not be swept under the rug. Secondly, encourage them to talk about their feelings and be sure to validate their
feelings. Having an opportunity to express what they are feeling, instead of holding it in, can be very beneficial. Last, offer compassion and encourage professional support. There are all different types of professionals, prepared to work with people of all ages who are struggling mentally. Taking that step to seek professional help can be difficult but remember that there is no one looking for therapy. There are many different types of approaches to professional help, and we encourage people to explore all their options, especially if they find that one type of therapy or professional help does not fit them.
We will continue to share facts, important information, and resources for the rest of September. Be sure to follow our social media pages and visit the website for more information. Feel free to contact Adoptions From The Heart if you have any questions or concerns regarding mental health or would like to be connected to any of our adoption counselors to chat or for more resources!
