Changing the Narrative

By Bees | September 10, 2025

Dark background with a hand reaching down to clasp an upward reaching hand in neutral skin tones representing LifeRing National Suicide Awareness Month blog post

September is Nation Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Throughout the month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness.

 
This Sunday, I will join my family in Kentucky for the Out of the Darkness community walk. We are gathering in memory of my niece and nephew, and in honor of everyone impacted by suicide.

It’s with a heavy heart that I once again highlight the critical importance of suicide awareness and prevention. By sharing these tools and resources, I hope to help you or a loved one find a way out of the darkness and into a place of openness, empathy, and support.

Changing the Narrative | World Suicide Prevention Day 2025

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and today marks  World Suicide Prevention Day. This year's theme, "Changing the Narrative on Suicide," encourages a powerful shift in how we talk about suicide. The goal is to move the conversation away from silence and shame, and toward one of hope, understanding, and prevention.

The theme for this year's World Suicide Prevention Day encourages a fundamental shift in how we talk about and address the issue of suicide. Instead of a narrative rooted in silence, stigma, and misunderstanding, the goal is to create one of openness, empathy, and support.

The idea that you can put thoughts of suicide into a person's head is a myth.
If you suspect a family member or friend is contemplating suicide, it is important to voice concerns in a calm, non-judgmental, non-confrontational manner.

This calls for several key actions and a change in mindset:

  • Breaking the Silence: For a long time, suicide has been a taboo subject. Changing the narrative means talking about it openly and honestly, which helps to destigmatize it and encourages people who are struggling to seek help.
  • Reducing Stigma: Suicide is often associated with shame and judgment. This campaign seeks to replace that with compassion and understanding, recognizing that suicidal thoughts are a sign of immense pain and distress, not a character flaw or weakness. It emphasizes that seeking help is a sign of strength.
  • Shifting from Helplessness to Hope: The narrative can often focus on the tragic outcomes. By "changing the narrative," the focus shifts to the fact that suicide is preventable, This involves highlighting stories of recovery, emphasizing the effectiveness of support and treatment, and showing that hope is possible.
  • Promoting Empathy and Action: It's not just about professionals; it's about making suicide prevention "everybody's business." The campaign encourages individuals, communities, and governments to take action by:
    • Listening without judgment.
    • Checking in on loved ones.
    • Advocating for policies that prioritize mental health and increase access to care.
    • Promoting education and awareness.
  • Using Compassionate Language: The language we use matters. "Changing the narrative" means moving away from outdated or harmful phrases like "committed suicide" (which implies a crime) to more neutral and compassionate terms like "died by suicide" or "suicidal ideation."

In essence, "changing the narrative" is a call to action to transform the conversation around suicide from a topic of fear and avoidance to one of compassion, hope, and proactive prevention.

Understanding Suicide: A Multifaceted Issue

Suicide is rarely caused by a single event or circumstance. Instead, it's a complex issue influenced by a range of factors known as social determinants of health — conditions at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels that can increase risk. These include mental illness, substance abuse, chronic disease, childhood trauma, social isolation, financial strain, and the loss of a loved one.

The narrative around suicide often overlooks the significant role of alcohol and drug use. Disturbances in brain chemistry and the use of alcohol and other drugs can increase impulsivity and elevate suicide risk. A 2024 analysis from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) revealed that there were 51 drug-related emergency department (ED) visits involving suicide attempts per 100,000 population. Alcohol, the most frequently mentioned substance, was associated with 24% of these types of ED visits. Females (sex at birth) accounted for 64 percent of these visits while males (sex at birth) comprised 36 percent.

Recognizing Warning Signs

It's a common misconception that you can "plant" the idea of suicide in someone's head by talking about it. The truth is, openly and calmly discussing suicide can actually reduce the risk by providing a safe space for someone to express their feelings without judgment. As of 2024, approximately 5.5% of males (up .5% since 2022) and 5.3% of females (up .2% since 2022) in the United States reported having serious thoughts of suicide.

Warning signs may include:

  • Talking about death or wanting to die.
  • Expressing feelings of hopelessness or being a burden.
  • Withdrawing from social activities.
  • Behaving recklessly or engaging in self-destructive behaviors.
  • Experiencing dramatic mood swings.

Suicidal thoughts and attempts are much more common among those with substance dependence and/or those who have had a recent major depressive episode. In 2024, 29% of U.S. adults who had a major depressive episode in the past year also had serious thoughts of suicide, compared with just 3.4% of those who did not.

Suicide is Preventable: Taking Action

The "Changing the Narrative" theme emphasizes that suicide is preventable. Most individuals who are suicidal desperately want to live; they just can't see a way out of their current problems. Talking about suicide is not just important — it's essential.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends a simple, actionable framework to help someone who may be at risk. This framework helps change the narrative from one of passive concern to one of active intervention.

According to the NIH, the idea that you can put thoughts of suicide into a person's head is a myth. This is supported by an abstract published in the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI), showing that acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce, rather than increase suicidal ideation, and may lead to improvement.

So, if you suspect a family member or friend is contemplating suicide, voice your concerns in a calm, non-judgmental, non-confrontational manner, Ideally, while alone with the person in a quiet setting Talking about suicide can improve mental health-related outcomes and the likelihood of seeking treatment. Opening this conversation helps people explore an alternative view of their existing circumstances.

The NIH recommends these steps to engage with someone you feel may be at risk:

  1. ASK:  Are you thinking about killing yourself?" It's not an easy question, but studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicides or suicidal thoughts.
  2. KEEP THEM SAFE: Reducing a suicidal person's access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention. While this is not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing or disabling the lethal means can make a difference.
  3. BE THERE:  Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Research suggests acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts.
  4. HELP THEM CONNECT:  Save the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number (call or text 988) in your phone so they're there if you need them. You can also help make a connection with a trusted individual like a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional.
  5. STAY CONNECTED:  Staying in touch after a crisis or after being discharged from care can make a difference. Studies have shown the number of suicide deaths goes down when someone follows up with the at-risk person.

Curious about your state of mental health? Take the Mental Health America Depression Test

Resources for Support: You Are Not Alone

If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, it is essential to seek help. Many countries have suicide crisis or prevention lines that offer free advice and support in such situations. If you live in the United States, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by simply calling 988 to receive free and confidential support 24/7.  You may call 988 on your own with concerns about someone else, or you can call together with that person and a specialist will help with next steps.

In addition to the sources linked above, here are a number of recommended resources:

Reference Portals

  • BeThe1To | 988-based suicide-prevention promotional resources
  • Find Support | SAMHSA-vetted resources for issues with mental health, drugs, or alcohol
  • LifeRing Crisis Resources | LifeRing-vetted crisis management resources

Informational Resources

Remember, you have the power to change the narrative. Your compassion and willingness to talk can save a life.

LifeRing Support Resources

All LifeRing recovery resources provide supportive environments for individuals seeking to overcome addiction while promoting their mental health. By fostering non-judgmental spaces, these meetings encourage open dialogue and shared experiences, allowing participants to connect with others who understand their struggles. This sense of belonging can significantly reduce feelings of isolation and anxiety, promoting emotional well-being. Additionally, the focus on personal empowerment and self-directed recovery helps individuals build resilience, develop coping strategies, and cultivate a positive mindset, ultimately enhancing their overall mental health and quality of life.

Co-occurring Disorders and Trauma Focus Meetings
The LifeRing Co-occurring Disorders focus meetings are built on the HWYW platform and tailored to people in recovery with co-occurring disorders including alcohol and other substance disorders, and mental and emotional health issues. These meetings are limited to those diagnosed with co-occurring disorders and frequently require cameras to remain on throughout the meeting. Times and meeting links for LifeRing co-occurring disorders meetings are listed on the Online Meeting Schedule.

Crazy Talk | Tuesdays at 1:00pm Pacific Time

Strange Attractors | Thursdays at 6:30pm Pacific Time

Trauma Recovery on Saturday | Saturdays at 6:00am Pacific Time

Mosaic | Saturdays at 4:00pm Pacific Time

Trauma Recovery on Sunday | Sundays at 7:00am Pacific Time

Shine On, You Crazy Diamond | Sundays at 9:00am Pacific Time

Manic Sunday | Sundays at 5:00pm Pacific

 

You can help LifeRing provide peer-to-peer support resources like our Co-Occurring Disorder Meetings with your one-time and monthly donations.

Thank you!

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