Understanding National Suicide Prevention Month: How to Recognize the Signs and Find Support
With clinical insights from Ruby Mehta, VP of Therapy & Integrated Care at SOL Mental Health
Every September, National Suicide Prevention Month asks us to do something simple, but not always easy: to talk openly about a topic that too many people carry alone, and one that’s still too often considered “taboo.”
This month is about awareness, connection, and making sure the people around us, and ourselves, know that support exists and that reaching out works.
We sat down with Ruby Mehta, VP of Therapy & Integrated Care at SOL Mental Health, to discuss the importance of National Suicide Prevention Month and how to find the help you or your loved one may need.
Why National Suicide Prevention Month Matters
Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States. According to the CDC, suicide was responsible for 48,824 deaths in 2024, and it’s the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults ages 15 to 34. Behind those numbers are millions more people quietly struggling: in 2024 alone, an estimated 14.3 million adults seriously thought about suicide, and 2.2 million attempted it. These numbers go beyond statistics; they represent friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family members who may be closer to crisis than anyone around them realizes.
On why an entire month dedicated to this topic still matters so much, Mehta explains, “National Suicide Prevention Month is so important because it raises awareness of what many people struggle with alone. On one hand, having suicidal thoughts can be extremely isolating, on the other hand discussing suicidal thoughts can feel scary and shameful.”
She adds, “I wish more people understood that suicidal thoughts aren't a character flaw or a sign someone is broken. They're often a symptom of unbearable pain combined with a narrowed sense of options, and both of those things can shift with the right support. I also wish people understood that asking someone directly if they're thinking about suicide doesn't plant the idea. It opens a door.”
Recognizing the Warning Signs of Suicide or Suicidal Thoughts
Suicidal thoughts don’t always announce themselves clearly, but there are patterns worth paying attention to, in ourselves and in the people we care about. “Watch for withdrawal from friends, activities, or routines that used to matter to them, along with big mood swings,” says Mehta. “A sudden calm after a period of deep distress should be monitored, as that can mean someone has made a decision.”
Language matters too. Mehta notes to “watch for signs in their language too, such as talking about being a burden, saying goodbye in ways that feel final, giving away possessions, or making comments like 'it won't matter soon' or 'everyone would be better off if I were gone.'” Other changes, like sleep disturbances, increased substance use, and isolation are also signs worth taking seriously.
Altogether, these warning signs are meant to raise awareness, not serve as a checklist for diagnosis. If something feels off, it’s worth trusting that instinct and reaching out.
How to Support a Loved One Who May Be Struggling
One of the hardest parts of noticing these signs is knowing what to say next. Mehta’s advice is direct: “Pick a private moment and ask directly. Something like, 'I've noticed you haven't seemed like yourself, and I'm worried about you. Are you thinking about suicide?' Direct language works better than euphemisms because it shows you can handle hearing the real answer.”
What happens after you ask matters just as much. “Then, listen without arguing, fixing, or panicking. You don't need the right words, it's more important to stay present and let them talk. Avoid minimizing their pain or rushing to reassure them everything will be fine, since that can shut the conversation down fast.”
What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is in Crisis
If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, help is available right now. Mehta is clear about what to do in the moment: “Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or go to the nearest emergency room. If there's an active plan or access to means, don't leave the person alone, and remove access to those means if you can do so safely. This is a time to get professional help involved and keep the person safe until that help arrives.”
How Therapy and Ongoing Support Help
Crisis resources are essential in the moment, but lasting prevention happens over time, through consistent, ongoing care. “Crisis response stabilizes someone in the moment, but therapy builds the skills that keep them out of crisis in the first place,” Mehta explains. “Over time, a therapist helps a patient recognize their own warning signs earlier, build a safety plan they can actually use, and work through the underlying pain, whether that's depression, trauma, or a pattern of hopelessness, that keeps bringing them back to that edge.”
This kind of steady support changes how people respond to hard moments in the future. As Mehta puts it, “Patients in consistent therapy tend to identify their own risk factors before things escalate, and they know who to call or what to do instead of trying to white-knuckle through it alone.”
You Are Not Alone: How SOL Mental Health Can Help
Stigma keeps too many people from reaching out in the first place, and Mehta wants that fear addressed head-on. “I'd tell them the people worth keeping in their life will not think less of them for struggling, and the ones who might aren't worth staying in pain,” she says. “Reaching out for help isn't weakness, it's one of the harder things a person can do, and therapists have heard versions of your story before and won't flinch.” She adds, “The fear of judgment tends to feel worse than any actual judgment, and it keeps people stuck far longer in a cycle of pain than it needs to be.”
At SOL Mental Health, we believe reaching out is a sign of strength, not a last resort. Whether you’re navigating your own difficult thoughts or supporting someone you love, our therapists provide the compassionate, ongoing care that helps people move from surviving to genuinely healing.
You don’t have to carry this alone. Contact us today to take that first step.
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Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988lifeline.org
Suicide Statistics
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
NAMI HelpLine
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
This blog is intended for general education and awareness. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room.
