During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, organizations spread awareness towards mental health and suicide prevention

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and events are available for students to join. During this month, people and organizations raise awareness and share information about suicide prevention. An event for NDSU students, “You Don’t have to Do it Alone,” promoted students seeking help when facing mental health struggles. 

Suicide Prevention Month first started in 2008. It was created to help connect people to resources and to educate others about those affected by mental health and suicide. 

Suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of a person’s background. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. According to the CDC, 45,979 people died from suicide in 2020. Suicide is also the 2nd leading cause of death of people between the ages of 10 and 24. 

Casey Tallent is the Director of Collegiate and Telebehavioral Health Initiatives for Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center. She is working to eliminate the stigma around mental health and suicide. “We want to change the stigma by normalizing mental health issues and that it is okay to talk about it and get help,” said Tallent, “unfortunately, we know that mental health issues flourish in isolation.”