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National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Spotlight: Insights and Resources from DBH Students, Faculty, and Subject Matter Experts

September 17, 2024

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, with National Suicide Prevention Week observed from September 8-14, 2024. a time to share resources and stories to raise awareness about this often stigmatized and sensitive topic. We invite you to explore the CGI archives, where you’ll find educational materials, including articles and podcasts, focused on suicide prevention and awareness.

We are proud to stand with those working to build a future free from suicide and are committed to providing these resources to the public at no cost. Our goal is to support education and awareness around suicide prevention and behavioral healthcare. Below is a selection of recommended articles, resources, and podcast episodes from the CGI archive for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Macro Approaches to Suicide Prevention Podcast

In this special episode of Disruptors at Work: an Integrated Care Podcast, host Dr. U. Grant Baldwin, Jr., DBH, Director of the Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program at Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies, and Brandon J. Johnson, MHS, MCHES, explore macro approaches to suicide prevention, exploring innovative strategies and community-based initiatives that aim to address this global concern on a larger scale.

Learn more: Macro Approaches to Suicide Prevention

Integrated Approaches to Suicide Prevention Podcast

In the latest episode of Disruptors at Work: an Integrated Care Podcast, hosts Dr. U. Grant Baldwin, Jr., DBH, Director of the Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) program at Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies (CGI), and Dr. Larry Ford, DBH, Member of the CGI Board of Directors, discuss suicide prevention with Dr. Bobby L. Armstrong, PhD, ThD, including complex factors that contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors and common misconceptions about suicide and how to correct them.

Learn more: Integrated Approaches to Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention and State Policy Podcast

In this episode of the Disruptors at Work: an Integrated Care Podcast, Dr. Larry Ford, Dr. Cara English, Dr. Janet Cummings and Jackie Carro discuss suicidality in the US and what states and healthcare systems can and should be doing to address this crisis proactively.

Learn more: Ask a DBH Special Episode: Suicide Prevention and State Policy

Veteran Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Podcast

In this episode of the Disruptors at Work: an Integrated Care Podcast, host Dr. Cara English, DBH, interviews Dr. C. Carl Wilson, DBH, LPCC, CADC, on the topic of veteran suicide prevention and mental health.

Learn more: Veteran Suicide Prevention and Mental Health

COVID-19 Kills in More Ways than One: The Novel Coronavirus and Suicide

Article by: Janet L. Cummings, Psy.D.

For some months now, we’ve all been watching the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States and throughout the world rise on a daily basis. We have also watched with horror as the death toll has risen to numbers that most of us have a hard time even comprehending, and there does not seem to be an end in sight for the Global Pandemic…

Read more more: COVID-19 Kills in More Ways than One: The Novel Coronavirus and Suicide

Suicide in School Shooting Survivors

Article by: Janet L. Cummings, Psy.D.

In the past week, two survivors of the school shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida (which occurred on February 14, 2018) have died. The first was a 19-year-old woman who had since graduated but was a “survivor of the 2018 massacre at the school [who] took her own life” (‘Apparent suicide’ of Parkland student days after massacre survivor…, 2019, March 25). This past Saturday, another currently enrolled student has died in “an apparent suicide” (ibid), at least until the medical examiner’s office rules differently. He was a sophomore in the school at the time of the 2018 massacre…

Read more: Suicide in School Shooting Survivors

Prevent Suicide by Recognizing Early Warning Signs (Part 1)

Article by: Janet L. Cummings, Psy.D.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness month. As a result, the Internet is full of information on suicide, some good and some not so good. ValantMed, for example, lists early warning signs of suicide, as well as prevention measures and tips for friends and family on how to be supportive to a suicidal person.

Suicide is devastating to the patient’s family and health providers. A suicide haunts families for generations. As behavioral health providers, the last thing we want to do is make an error in judgment when we see a suicidal patient – we must hone our skills so that we don’t miss the chance to intervene appropriately and effectively…

Read more: Prevent Suicide by Recognizing Early Warning Signs

Preventing Suicide Part 2: Verbal, Non-Verbal, and Tactile Indicators

Unfortunately, not all suicidal people tell others that they are feeling depressed and suicidal. Most people are unable to recognize the more subtle clues for lethality, although the verbal clues are certainly easier to recognize. It’s hard to miss when someone we care about tells us they feel suicidal. Suicidal people are more likely to talk about their lethality early in the suicidal process, and may talk about their depression and suicidal ideation to absolutely anyone who will listen. However, as they get closer to suicide, they usually talk about it less, and those who care about them may assume that they no longer feel suicidal…

Read more: Preventing Suicide Part 2: Verbal, Non-Verbal, and Tactile Indicators

Suicide Prevention Resources

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Find a local chapter
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Text the Crisis Text Line: text TALK to 741741

National Alliance on Mental Illness
Suicide Prevention Resources
Helpline: Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Text “HelpLine” to 62640
Email us at helpline@nami.org

Mental Health America
Suicide Prevention Resources
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 and you’ll be connected to a trained Crisis Counselor. Crisis Text Line provides no-cost, text-based support 24/7.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Languages: English, Spanish
Hours: Available 24 hours

Trevor Project
24/7 Hotline: 1-866-488-7386
Educational Resources for schools

Postpartum Support International (PSI)
PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773
#1 En Espanol or #2 English
Or Text:
English: 503-894-9453
Español: 971-420-0294

988: Promote National Suicide Prevention Month resources

Spanish-Language Suicide Prevention Resources

Mental Health America Resources

Mental Health Coalition Spanish Language Resources

Crisis Text Line