Fayette County, WV (WOAY) – September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a national effort to get people talking about a crisis that touches families across southern West Virginia and the country.
Hannah Wesolowski, chief advocacy officer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, says the scale of the loss is what makes the month so important.
“So every year we tragically lose over 48,000 lives to suicide. It’s one death every 11 minutes. And as a nation, we can do much better than that,” Wesolowski said.
She says a key to prevention is getting people to open up about what they are struggling with, something that is often held back by shame.
“It’s gotten better, but unfortunately, a lot of people still feel that shame. They feel that they’ve done something wrong, that it’s a personal flaw,” Wesolowski said.
She says reducing that stigma starts with a change in how people think about mental health.
“I often compare it to other health conditions. You know, if you have heart disease, if you have diabetes, if you have other things going to the doctor as normal, that’s something we want you to do. We encourage people to do it. And, you know, I don’t want people to feel shame, but more than that, I don’t want them to feel alone,” Wesolowski said.
For those ready to reach out, Wesolowski points to a confidential option available at any time.
“988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a perfect example. It is available in West Virginia, is available across the country … It’s a trained, compassionate crisis counselor that can help you,” Wesolowski said.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available around the clock by call or text, and it is free.
