Suicide Awareness Month: The Power of Prevention & Self-Care
September is Suicide Awareness Month, a time to come together, raise awareness, and remind ourselves that mental health matters every single day. Suicide is a complex and painful reality that touches too many lives, but one of the most important truths we can hold onto is this: prevention is possible, and healing is real.
Why Awareness Matters
Suicide Awareness Month isn’t only about recognizing the warning signs of a crisis, it’s also about building resilience before a crisis begins. When we open up conversations about mental health, we create spaces where people feel less alone and more supported. We reduce stigma, normalize asking for help, and remind each other that taking care of our minds is just as important as taking care of our bodies.
Practicing Preventative Mental Health
At IOME, we believe that self-care isn’t selfish, it’s essential. Too often, people wait until they’re in crisis to seek support. But what if we approached mental health proactively? That’s why we emphasize guilt-free self-care as a way to strengthen your mental health before the storm hits.
Some of the tools we use with clients include:
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Therapy: A safe space to process emotions, gain tools, and feel understood.
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Sauna sessions: Supporting the body’s relaxation and stress relief.
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Red light therapy: Promoting physical recovery and calm.
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Neurofeedback: Training the brain to regulate itself and find balance.
This isn’t about luxury, it’s about everyday prevention and resilience.
Everyday Tools You Can Practice This Month
Whether you’re connected with IOME or not, there are small steps you can take to prioritize your mental health during Suicide Awareness Month (and beyond):
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Check in with yourself daily. Ask: How am I really doing today? What am I needing?
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Reach out to someone. Connection is one of the strongest protective factors against suicide.
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Practice grounding. Try deep breathing, a short walk outside, or mindfulness when stress rises.
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Give yourself permission to rest. You don’t have to earn rest, it’s a human need.
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Engage in guilt-free self-care. Whether it’s reading, moving your body, journaling, or simply saying “no", your mental health benefits when you treat yourself with compassion.
You’re Not Alone
If you or someone you love is struggling, know that help is available and you don’t have to carry the weight alone. In the U.S., you can dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime, day or night.
This September, let’s not only raise awareness but also take steps toward prevention, both for ourselves and for the people we care about. Because when we tend to our mental health with compassion, we build lives filled with more connection, resilience, and hope.