September is Suicide Prevention Month, spreading awareness of an issue that now affects many teenagers, now the second cause of death of people ages 15-25. 

In order to acknowledge the rising issue of death by suicide, in 2008, September was declared as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and recognizes people who deal with it as well as providing help through treatment.  

When someone struggles with suicidal thoughts, some ways to help are through acknowledging and communicating feelings without judgment. 

Immediately report any concerns of self harm and connect the individual to a support system. Don’t be afraid to contact the 988 Suicide Hotline. 

Some signs someone might be struggling with suicidal thoughts are:

• Talking about feeling guilty for burdening others as well as statements about suicidal thoughts
• Behavior changes such as self-separation from friends and family, leaving important items towards their friends or family as a way of making a will, or changes in eating and sleeping habits.
• Extreme behavior changes could include using substances excessively and driving dangerously. 

On Aug. 29, South Arkansas Together’s Jay Lowder spoke to El Dorado High School students about suicide prevention and teen substance abuse. 

South Arkansas Together is a program that aims to help others through difficult times. Rushell Meshell, of South Arkansas Together, said that the motivations for reaching out to people about suicide is to bring the community together, because of many tragedies in the youth community these days with the number of murders and suicides. 

“South Arkansas Together has trained 250 people to become counselors and follow up with the people they counsel over the next couple of months, and over 370 people have made commitments,” Meshell said.

This is Jay Lowder’s goal in order to help the youth community. South Arkansas together helps others through the word of Christ providing counselors, adults, and teachers to talk to from local churches and the Boys and Girls Club.