Each month highlights something different, and September is no different. As September marks Suicide Awareness Month, the nation turns its focus to one of the most pressing, yet often overlooked, public health issues: suicide prevention. Mental health struggles are on the rise, both widespread and even throughout North Atlanta High School. September offers a crucial opportunity to address this significant issue often overlooked or struggled with in silence. It provides an opportunity to break the stigma against it and have a chance to talk about suicide, and other mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, rather than keep silent about it.
Even though the year just started, mental health is more important than ever. It may be the second month of the new school year, but for many, this is just the continuation of the stress they have been dealing with since the second week. September provides the opportunity early on to talk about the mental health struggles many people go through. Even though this month focuses on suicide awareness and prevention, it also is about so much more than that. Libby Gray Hall, a senior and Co-President of HOPE Squad – the Suicide Awareness and Prevention Club at NAHS – agrees with that statement. “Mental health and suicide are inherently intertwined, you cannot separate the two, that’s why it is so important to address both because they always co-exist together,” said Hall.
Mental health is something that everyone goes through, whether or not someone wants to admit that. It is important to address and acknowledge one’s mental health too, whether it is good or bad, something that September also helps to capitalize on. Education about the topics of mental health and suicide is just as important as the conversations about preventing them. The only way people know about what mental health is, where to get help, and how to prevent mental health from getting so bad to the point of suicide is by talking and educating people about that. An easy way anyone can do this is simply by checking in on friends. “Asking if your friend is okay goes a long way,” said Sophie Rose, a senior and co-president of the Mental Health Awareness Club (MHAC). “It helps in letting people know you care about them and you are there if they need you, sometimes the difference between someone suffering in silence or speaking out about what they are going through.”
For thirty days in September, the issues of Suicide Awareness and Prevention have the spotlight on them. However, the discussion of this idea should not be limited to only one month but year-round. It is a crucial step in the destabilization of both suicide and mental health, a key conversation point, especially in today’s society and the growing number of mental health concerns and issues that are present. “We cannot solve a problem that is unspoken,” said Caitlin Tripp, an AP World History teacher and teacher sponsor of Mental Health Awareness Club. “Much like any other month we highlight a certain issue, like Women’s History or Black History Month, it should be the standard and model for us to discuss these things year-round. The more you talk about it, the more you can be there for others who need support.”
Suicide awareness is an important topic and one should never feel bad asking for help if they need it. North Atlanta offers resources if you need to reach out to someone about your mental health, or simply want to know more about it. Contact any of the people mentioned in this article for information about the Mental Health Awareness Club or HOPE Squad, as well as our social workers at the school.
