Suicide Awareness Month: Supporting Each Other With Love

September is Suicide Awareness Month, a time set aside to talk openly about a subject that so many people carry quietly. Suicide Awareness isn't about statistics alone — it's about noticing the people around us, understanding what they might be going through, and learning how to respond with compassion instead of fear.

At Diamond Heart Therapy, we believe awareness is the first step toward connection. When we understand the signs of struggle and know how to respond, we can help the people we love feel less alone. This blog is meant to be educational: a gentle guide to recognizing when someone may be struggling, how to support them, and where to turn for help.

Why Suicide Awareness Month Matters

Suicide affects far more families and communities than most people realize. Worldwide, well over 700,000 people die by suicide each year, and it remains one of the leading causes of death among young people. For every death, many more people attempt suicide, and a previous attempt is one of the strongest known risk factors, according to the World Health Organization.

Numbers like these can feel overwhelming, but they point to something hopeful, too: suicide is often preventable. With timely, compassionate, and evidence-based support, many lives can be saved. That's why Suicide Awareness matters — not just for one month, but as an ongoing commitment to noticing, listening, and reaching out.

Part of what makes prevention so difficult is stigma. Many people who are struggling stay silent because of the shame that still surrounds suicide and mental health. Raising awareness and simply being willing to say the word "suicide" out loud with care helps chip away at that silence.

Recognizing the Signs Someone May Be Struggling

Depression and suicidal thoughts don't always look the way we expect. Someone can be smiling on the outside while quietly carrying an enormous weight. Some signs to watch for include:

• Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities they once enjoyed

• Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or like a burden to others

• Noticeable changes in sleep, appetite, or energy

• Increased use of alcohol or substances

• Giving away belongings or making final arrangements

• A sudden sense of calm after a period of depression or crisis

• Direct or indirect statements about wanting to die or not wanting to be here

If you notice these signs in someone you love, trust that instinct. You don't need to have the perfect words — you just need to be willing to ask and to listen.

How to Support Someone With Tenderness

Supporting someone who may be struggling isn't about fixing them. It's about showing up, staying present, and letting them know they matter. A few gentle ways to help:

Ask directly, and with care. Asking someone if they're thinking about suicide does not plant the idea — it opens the door for honesty. A simple, caring question like "I've noticed you haven't seemed like yourself lately — are you okay?" can mean everything.

Listen without trying to fix. Resist the urge to offer quick solutions or silver linings. Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is simply listen without judgment.

Stay connected. Isolation is one of the biggest risk factors for suicide. A short text, a phone

call, or an invitation to spend time together can remind someone they aren't alone.

Help them find professional support. Encourage them to reach out to a therapist, and offer to help them take that first step, whether that's finding a provider or sitting with them while they make the call. Diamond Heart Therapy's Depression Therapy services are built around exactly this kind of compassionate, patient, judgment-free care.

Take any mention of suicide seriously. If someone tells you they're thinking about ending their life, don't leave them alone. Help them connect with a crisis line or emergency services right away.

You Are Not Alone: Crisis Resources

If you or someone you love is struggling right now, please reach out. Help is available, day or night.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call or Text 988 988lifeline.org

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline connects you with trained counselors who are ready to listen, free and confidential, any time of day.

Diamond Heart Therapy: Your Partner in Suicide Awareness and Healing

Suicide Awareness doesn't end when September does. At Diamond Heart Therapy in West Des Moines, we walk alongside individuals and families year-round, offering a safe, heart-centered space for healing from depression, grief, and the weight that can sometimes feel too heavy to carry alone. Our therapists meet you exactly where you are, without pressure and without judgment.

If you're worried about yourself or someone you love, you don't have to navigate it alone. Reach out to our team today to learn more about our therapy services and how we can support you on the path forward.

This blog discusses suicide and mental health as an educational resource. If you are personally struggling, please know that support is available — call or text 988, or reach out to a trusted provider near you.