In September, students came together to express and bring awareness to mental health by creating a club called Hope Squad. This is because September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, which raises awareness for people nationwide who struggle with mental illnesses.
“People don’t understand how terrible it is to be depressed; it’s this constant weight on you. You could be in a room full of people and feel alone. You could also have a tendency to zone out and be in a void of your own loneliness. It feels like you’re battling yourself, and you’re doing it alone, and that is really painful,” Jungel said.
September Events
Although September has ended, National Suicide Awareness Month helped struggling individuals feel welcomed. There are a few national organisations, like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which hosted community walks, or “Out of the Darkness walks,” across the country to raise money for research and help build community.
Kansas City hosted many events in September, with some starting in October. The University of Kansas Health Center hosted a Community Suicide Prevention Symposium on September 10th to talk about how suicide impacts our community. A SpeakUp Walk was hosted on September 21st at 9 AM at a price of $32.80 to raise money for mental health programs in schools. This walk was one mile long and hosted in Olathe, Kansas. There was also a Greater KC Out of the Darkness Walk, which is free of cost, hosted at English Landing Park, Parville, MO, on October 4th at 9 AM.
“I think National Suicide Prevention Month allows people to know that they’re not alone with what they’re struggling with. A lot of people are struggling too. There are a lot of kind people to help,” freshman Amaina Peterson said.
Understand the Statistics
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Suicide is the second leading cause of death in people ages 10-34, and in all age groups, it is the eleventh leading cause of death. National Suicide Prevention Month advocates for building community among individuals to help support them.
“I want to let students know it’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to ask for help, and that it’s very important to get the help that they need, because they don’t have to do it alone,” social worker Kris Boyle said.
Possible Causes
Depression is a versatile illness; there is not simply one cause or one solution. However, there are many common triggers to look out for to recognize warning signs. Some of these common triggers include grief, loss, rejection, stress, sickness, sleep problems and substance abuse.
According to The Recovery Village, “By identifying depression triggers, people can identify and be aware and be alert to signs of depression in themselves and in others.”
Coping Skills
Dealing with mental illnesses can be difficult. Everyone can have different ways of helping themselves. However, not everyone who struggles knows how to deal with their feelings. Some simple coping skills would include getting active, spending time with loved ones, eating healthy or journaling.
“Depression is something I’ve learned I need to stay on top of. I don’t ignore how I feel, but I find activities, hobbies, or people to talk to when I’m struggling instead of being on my own,” junior Wallis Love said.
Depression In Schools
Since 2012, it has become more prominent for teenagers in high school to be depressed and consider suicide. This could be for many reasons; for most, the change from middle school to high school is stressful and overwhelming. Another cause for this could be new emotions from puberty without enough recognition of them, making teens feel out of place and unbelonging.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “39.7% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, 28.5% experienced poor mental health, 20.4% seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9.5% attempted suicide.”
Opportunities
Counselors and social workers set up a day in October, which is National Bullying Prevention Month, for the SOS program. The SOS initiative brings together both of these big issues to help take action on them. This program teaches students how to ACT, which stands for: acknowledge that you or your peer is struggling, care for their feelings, and tell someone else who can provide help and support.
“SOS also works on youth advocating for themselves when they know that theyaren’t okay or that they may need extra support. SOS is trying to wrap around the whole school individually and with our friend groups and the students,” social worker Beth Schroeder said.
Another program our school has is the HOPE Squad, which is a group of formally trained students who are able to provide help finding resources and trusted adults to whom you can communicate your emotions. HOPE is the approach they use, which stands for: Heads Up, Offer Support, Provide Information, and Empower Peers. These students will wear HOPE Squad shirts occasionally so students will know who to contact.
“It’s hard to reach out to a teacher or someone you don’t know, but if it’s someone you can trust, then reaching out is a lot less scary. Hope Squad is able to give those people the resources and tell them who they can trust,” Love said.
Speaking Out
It is common for people to feel misunderstood, depressed, anxious and hide those feelings from other people because of shame. However, it is important to share your emotions and bring those feelings out. This is why National Suicide Prevention Month encourages community and communication.
“So many people have lost their lives to suicide. I think if it’s recognized, spoken out about, and public, it makes it less taboo. More people will feel like they can get help and they are not alone,” junior Zoe Moore said.
Some actions you can take to get involved can be as simple as calling an old friend or loved one and checking in on them, or as big as taking time to donate to a national organization or participate in one of their activities. Call 988 if you or someone you know is struggling.
