Suicide Prevention Month: The Importance of Checking In, Speaking Up, and Staying Connected

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about suicide, reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, and reminding people that conversations about emotional pain matter.

Suicide can be an incredibly difficult topic to talk about. Many people worry that they will say the wrong thing, make someone uncomfortable, or bring up something that feels too personal. Because of that discomfort, it can sometimes feel easier to avoid the conversation altogether.

But talking about mental health and suicide can create an opportunity for someone to be honest about what they are experiencing. We do not need to have the perfect words or know exactly how to respond. Sometimes, one of the most meaningful things we can do is create a space where someone knows they will be heard, taken seriously, and supported.

Suicide Prevention Month is an important reminder that prevention does not only happen in moments of crisis. It happens in our everyday relationships, in our willingness to check in, in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health care, and in helping people feel less alone.

Mental Health Struggles Are Not Always Obvious

When we picture someone who is struggling with their mental health, we may expect there to be noticeable signs. In reality, emotional distress can look very different from person to person.

Someone may continue going to work, attending school, caring for their children, spending time with friends, exercising, or posting normally on social media while privately experiencing significant emotional pain. From the outside, it may appear that everything is going well.

Other people may show more noticeable changes. They might begin withdrawing from people they normally spend time with, experience changes in sleep or appetite, become increasingly irritable or anxious, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, or express feelings of hopelessness.

There is no single way that someone experiencing suicidal thoughts will look or behave. This is one reason genuine connection is so important. Instead of assuming someone is okay because they appear to be functioning well, we can make space for conversations that go beyond the surface. Sometimes asking, “How are you really doing?” communicates something important: I care to hear the real answer.

It Is Okay to Talk About Suicide

Many people hesitate to directly ask someone if they are thinking about suicide because they are afraid of saying the wrong thing. There can also be a fear that bringing up suicide will somehow make the situation worse.

However, if you are genuinely concerned about someone, it is okay to ask directly and compassionately about what they are experiencing. Giving someone permission to speak honestly can reduce some of the isolation they may be feeling. You do not need to approach the conversation as a therapist or mental health professional. You can approach it as someone who cares.

If someone tells you they are struggling, your first instinct may be to immediately find a solution. While connecting someone with appropriate help is important, listening matters too. Responses such as “I’m really glad you told me,” “I’m here with you,” or “We can figure out the next step together” can communicate support without minimizing what they are experiencing.

Most importantly, take what they tell you seriously.

How to Check In With Someone You Are Worried About

Knowing that we should check in with someone and knowing how to do it can feel like two different things. You may notice that a friend, family member, coworker, or loved one seems different but have no idea how to start the conversation.

You might start by mentioning what you have noticed: “You haven’t seemed like yourself lately, and I wanted to check on you.” You could also simply say, “I know you have a lot going on right now. How are you doing with everything?”

If their response makes you concerned about their safety, it is okay to be more direct and ask whether they have been thinking about suicide or hurting themselves.

Then, listen.

Try to resist the urge to immediately tell them why everything will be okay, compare their situation to someone else's, or point out all of the positive things in their life. Even when these responses come from a caring place, they can unintentionally make someone feel like their emotions are being dismissed. Instead, acknowledge what they are telling you. You might say, “That sounds like a lot to carry,” or “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me.” If you are concerned about someone's immediate safety, help them connect with crisis or emergency support rather than trying to handle the situation alone.

And remember to follow up. A text a few days later saying, “I’ve been thinking about you. How are you doing today?” can remind someone that the conversation was not a burden and that your support did not disappear after one difficult moment.

Connection Can Be Powerful

Suicide prevention extends far beyond crisis intervention. It also involves creating communities where people feel connected, valued, and able to talk about mental health before they reach a crisis point. Connection does not always require a big gesture. It might mean inviting someone to grab coffee, sitting with a friend during a difficult day, checking on someone who has been quieter than usual, or calling a family member you have not heard from recently.

It can also mean simply being present.

We live in a world where we are constantly connected through phones, social media, and technology, yet it is still possible to feel incredibly alone. Being intentional about our relationships and creating opportunities for genuine conversation can make a difference.

For those of us in Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle area, our community continues to grow quickly. People may be starting new jobs, attending college, raising families, relocating to North Carolina, or building entirely new support systems. Life transitions, even exciting ones, can sometimes come with loneliness, stress, and disconnection. Community and connection matter, especially during those seasons.

Mental Health Care Does Not Have to Begin With a Crisis

One of the most important conversations we can have during Suicide Prevention Month is about seeking mental health support before someone reaches a crisis. There is sometimes an assumption that therapy is only necessary when life becomes completely unmanageable. In reality, people seek therapy for many different reasons.

Therapy can provide space to process grief, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, trauma, major life transitions, family stress, identity concerns, burnout, and other experiences that may feel overwhelming. It can also help people better understand themselves, strengthen coping skills, identify patterns, and develop healthier ways of navigating difficult emotions. You do not have to wait until you are at your lowest point to ask for support. Normalizing therapy and other forms of mental health care can be an important part of suicide prevention because it makes reaching out for help feel less intimidating.

Supporting Someone Does Not Mean Doing It Alone

When someone you love is struggling, it can be easy to feel responsible for making everything better.

Supporting someone does not mean becoming their therapist or carrying their mental health entirely on your shoulders. In fact, one of the most supportive things you can do may be helping them connect with people who are equipped to provide additional care.

Depending on the situation, this might include a therapist, physician, psychiatrist, crisis counselor, trusted family member, school counselor, or another mental health professional. You can still be part of their support system while recognizing that you do not have to be their entire support system.

It is also okay to recognize how supporting someone through a difficult period affects you. Caring for your own emotional well-being allows you to continue showing up in a healthy and sustainable way.

Suicide Prevention Goes Beyond September

Having a designated Suicide Prevention Month helps bring attention to an issue that deserves ongoing conversation. But the need for connection, compassion, and mental health support does not end when September does.

We can continue these conversations throughout the year.

We can ask people how they are really doing.

We can listen without immediately trying to fix everything.

We can learn to recognize when someone may need additional support.

We can challenge the idea that seeking therapy is something to be ashamed of.

And we can remind the people in our lives that they matter to us.

No single conversation can solve everything someone may be experiencing. But creating an environment where people feel safe enough to speak honestly about their mental health is an important place to start.

Finding Mental Health Support in Raleigh, NC

If you have been struggling with your mental health or feel like you could use additional support, you do not have to wait for things to become unbearable before reaching out. At Your Journey Through therapy practice, we believe therapy can provide a supportive space to process difficult emotions, navigate life transitions, develop coping skills, and feel less alone in what you are experiencing. We meet with clients both in-person in Raleigh, NC and virtually.

This Suicide Prevention Month, consider checking in with the people around you and allowing other people to check in with you, too. A conversation may feel small, but letting someone know that they are seen, heard, and supported can be meaningful.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger or a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.