Date: September 11, 2023
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to share crisis intervention resources and raise awareness about suicide within the Chickasaw Nation.
Suicide affects all ages. In 2021, suicide was among the top 10 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 20-34. Further, in 2021:*
- 12.3 million adults seriously thought about suicide
- 3.5 million adults made a suicide plan
- 1.7 million adults attempted suicide
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Suicide is preventable, not inevitable. We can work to end the stigma of discussing suicide by being open about our feelings, validating others’ experiences and offering support without judgment.
Zero Suicide is a commitment to suicide prevention in health and behavioral health care systems. It is both a concept and a practice being implemented by the Chickasaw Nation. Visit Chickasaw.net/Prevention to learn more about Chickasaw Nation Prevention Services, or contact them directly Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (580) 272-1180.
For free, confidential assistance 24/7, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. You do not have to be suicidal or in crisis to call the Lifeline. People call to talk about many things: substance use, economic worries, relationships, identity, illness, domestic violence, depression, mental and physical illness and loneliness.
Learn more at SAMHSA.gov/Suicide. For other Chickasaw Nation mental health resources, visit Chickasaw.net/MentalWellness.