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#BeThe1To… Raise Awareness About Suicide Prevention

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Every year, the month of September is designated to raise awareness nationally about suicide prevention. Mental health advocates, organizations, and a community of survivors promote efforts during the month to remember all those affected by suicide, and to focus actions on directing treatment to those who need it most.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a free emotional support network for people in suicide crisis or distress, promotes September (and beyond) to get the message out for improving crisis services, advancing best standards in professional help, and re-focusing on taking steps to make an impact in someone’s life.  The message, #BeThe1To, outlines 5 action steps that have been proven effective by supported evidence in the field of suicide prevention.1

The 5 Action Steps

  1. ASK – Research shows people who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks after them in a caring way. Findings suggest acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal ideation.
  2. KEEP THEM SAFE – A number of studies have indicated that when lethal means are made less available or less deadly, suicide rates by that method decline, and frequently suicide rates overall decline.
  3. BE THERE – Individuals are more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful after speaking to someone who listens without judgment.
  4. HELP THEM CONNECT – Studies indicate that helping someone at risk create a network of resources and individuals for support and safety can help them take positive action and reduce feelings of hopelessness.
  5. FOLLOW UP – Studies have also shown that brief, low cost intervention and supportive, ongoing contact may be an important part of suicide prevention, especially for individuals after they have been discharged from hospitals or care services.2

The community of legal professionals is touched by suicide at a rate that is alarming: “Lawyers are 3.6 times more likely to suffer from depression than nonlawyers, according to the American Psychological Association. Substance abuse rates within the legal profession are also much higher than for the general population. Clinical depression and substance abuse are highly correlated with suicide rates. The legal industry has the 11th-highest incidence of suicide among professions.”3 The Law Library’s guide on Mindfulness & Well-Being provides resources to help our students cope with stress.

Other resources, as noted by the Office of Student Services, are also available to the Dickinson Law student community 4:

Sources:
1 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
2 #BeThe1To, https://www.bethe1to.com/
3ABA Journal. Attorney suicide: What every lawyer needs to know, by Jeena Cho, January 1, 2019, http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/attorney_suicide_what_every_lawyer_needs_to_know
4 Penn State’s Dickinson Law, Office of Student Services, https://dickinsonlaw.psu.edu/student-services

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