Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
September is Suicide Prevention Month, where this whole month shines a light on what millions across the U.S. silently struggle with every day. The Alabama Department of Mental Health, or ADMH, has collaborated with community partners and other mental health organizations to continue their efforts in raising awareness and providing life-saving resources throughout the state.
“As we observe Suicide Prevention Month, we want to remind everyone that help is just a call or text away,” Commissioner of ADMH Kimberly Boswell said.
One resource available throughout the state is 988. The 988 Lifeline has become a critical and very crucial part of the ADMH’s infrastructure, a press release from ADMH states.
The last two years over 99,000 Alabamians have utilized the resource, the press release states, demonstrating the vital and critical role 988 has played in preventing suicides and providing help to those in crisis.
According to the 988 Lifeline website, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories. The 988 Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources with national standards and best practices.
“The Alabama Crisis System of Care is essential in ongoing efforts to reduce suicide rates and provide immediate support to those in need,” Boswel said.
Suicide is among the top nine leading causes of death in the U.S. and the need for access to mental health care has never been greater. In response, the state has prioritized expanding and enhancing access to resources for those at risk of suicide, the press release from ADMH reads.
During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Alabamians are encouraged to spread hope and promote prevention. By working together spreading hope, acceptance and promoting suicide prevention,
By fostering open conversations about mental health and suicide, the stigma around suicide and mental health can be broken to ensure that everyone in the community knows where to turn for help.
In Elmore and Autauga there are many resources available to those that silently struggle.
Carastar Health is a public, nonprofit corporation providing comprehensive services to support evolving mental health needs across four counties in central Alabama, including Montgomery, Autauga, Elmore, and Lowndes counties.
In Prattville they are located at 461 East Main Street, (334) 279-7830. In Wetumpka they are located at 8721 U.S. Hwy 231, (334) 279-7830, and their website has a slew of services available: https://www.carastar.org/
Another service that is 24-hours and free is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, (800) 273-TALK-(8255). The Lifeline is a free hotline available for anyone in crisis or emotional distress.
Both the Family Support Center in Prattville as well as the Elmore County Family Resource Center offer specific opportunities for classes through the QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training. While no such classes are offered or scheduled at this time, both Elmore and Autauga County center’s have hosted them in the past, and continue to offer services with the family, available resources and help in mind.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, help can be just one phone call away.
