September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to bring light to a subject that’s often left unspoken. Suicidal thoughts can feel overwhelming, both for the person experiencing them and for loved ones who want to help. While starting a conversation may feel intimidating, silence only deepens isolation. Talking openly about suicide can reduce risk, provide relief, and remind someone they’re not alone. This post explores how to recognize the signs, support someone in crisis, care for yourself along the way, and connect with life-saving resources.

Our emotions, mental state, and physical body are deeply and intrinsically connected, each influencing the other. Acknowledging this relationship and taking deliberate steps to take care of our bodies can have a transformative impact on our mental health journey. By embracing practices such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and gentle movement, we equip ourselves with powerful tools to navigate life’s ups and downs with resilience.

Depression can feel like you have dropped into a dark well that you can’t seem to climb out of – making family responsibilities, work, and even everyday tasks difficult to accomplish.

Depression and self-harm are not always openly discussed in homes or communities, and it may be difficult to discern how to best interact with your teen on these important topics.