Suicide Awareness Month: Hope and help for all

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — September is Suicide Awareness Month, a time that serves as a bridge between awareness and action, and a reminder that reaching out, even when words fail, can spark a lifeline of hope.

In 2023, the United States recorded about 49,300 suicide deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suicide remains the nation’s 11th-leading cause of death, with an age-adjusted rate of 14.2 per 100,000 people. Preliminary data from 2024 suggest the rate may rise to 14.7 per 100,000—the highest in decades.

Behind those numbers are families, friends, and communities forever changed. Nearly 42% of U.S. adults say they know someone who died by suicide, and more than 5% report having experienced suicidal thoughts themselves, the CDC reported.

“Asking someone who you are concerned about, ‘Are you thinking about killing yourself?’ does not put the thought in their head,” said Jeanine Hanks, Warren County Outpatient Director LSW, LMFT with River Ridge Behavioral Health in Vicksburg. “Regardless of the answer, it allows for conversation and discussion about concerns and changes in behaviors that have been noticed. Individuals are often scared to ask because they’re not sure what to do if their loved one says, ‘Yes.’ There is help. When in doubt, call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Line or your local community mental health center. They will help you through the process.”

Local resources
If you are in Vicksburg or Warren County, several organizations are available to listen and provide support:

• River Ridge Behavioral Health
  3444 Wisconsin Avenue, Vicksburg, MS 39180
  Main: (601) 638-0031 | Mobile Crisis (24/7): 1-888-558-2077
• Grace Christian Counseling Center
  1414 Cherry Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180
  Phone: (601) 636-5703
• Positive Pathways Behavioral Health, LLC
  1905 Mission 66 Dr., Vicksburg, MS 39180
  Phone: (601) 738-5820
  Offers therapy, psychiatric services, crisis response, telehealth, and peer support. Accepts sliding scale payments and most insurance.
• Mississippi Department of Mental Health Helpline
  Toll-free: 1-877-210-8513 (24/7)

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 for immediate help. Reaching out, whether through a question, a phone call or a simple check-in, can be the first step toward hope and recovery. Just as important, follow up in the days that follow; a single check-in can make the difference between isolation and hope.