Student Shines Light on The Importance of Suicide Prevention

With the advent of Suicide Prevention Month in September, a large percentage of the uninformed population may be wondering why exactly it needs to be observed. A large majority of the population does not deal with major mental crises, and this can lead to believing that no one deals with these problems. However, there is also a large population of people who do deal with mental health issues, which are often lifelong and damaging.

Mental Health has been stigmatized for decades upon decades, and it still is to some extent. Various myths exist regarding mental health, and these have caused irrevocable damage to people with mental health issues. They include thinking people who have mental health problems are violent, therapy being a waste of time and even that mental health problems are due to personal flaws such as being lazy or weak. These can cause people who have mental health issues to be discriminated against by those who do not have them.

This has been a problem for numerous decades, and led to the rise of mental health awareness in recent years. Part of this increasing awareness is the observation of Suicide Prevention Month in September, which includes spreading information regarding mental illness and resources those who are feeling suicidal can refer to.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 14 and the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24 in the U.S. Referring resources to young people who could end up becoming one of these statistics could save an untold number of lives.

People with mental illness are not just dealing with the illness itself, but also with treatment. Treatment for mental health issues can come in numerous forms, including therapy and medication, as well as others. To begin with, finding treatment itself can be quite challenging. Finding therapists who are both close to you and specialize in your specific area of treatment can be difficult, and people who are seeking them often have to rely simply on word of mouth. Thankfully, mental health care is a growing industry, with numerous help lines being set up to provide help towards those in need, such as the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline and the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ hotline at 800-950-NAMI. These can provide care for people who are struggling with mental illness and possibly even contemplating suicide without leaving their homes.

However, many forms of mental health care, such as therapy or medication, can be prohibitively expensive, much more so than physical health care. It can cost anywhere from $65 to $250 without insurance, according to therapist directory GoodTherapy.org. A majority of people who need care are paying those prices as well; according to Mental Health America, 11.1% of Americans with a mental illness are uninsured.

All of this makes living with a mental illness, especially in America, a tremendous task, not only because of the illness itself, but also the consequences of it. Those who have the ability to stand up to the odds and be successful while living with mental health issues should be celebrated not only during Suicide Prevention Month but every day as well.