Suicide Prevention Month: "You Matter"

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. I want to dedicate this blog post to this issue, and use it as a reminder that if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and suicidal thoughts, there are so many incredible resources available and so many people who can help.

You Matter. If you take nothing else from this post or from anything I ever promote... take the belief that you're important, valuable, and that you matter.

I know life gets heavy. I know sometimes the hard days feel like you'll never get through them. I know it's not easy to be stuck at rock bottom and feel like your life isn't worth living. I know.

But I also know you are strong, talented, beautiful, and worthy. I know you are more than capable of getting through whatever you have going on in your life. I know you are worthy and deserving of happiness, blessings, and fulfillment. I know that you matter.

You may be scared, sad, frustrated, hurting, tired, isolated, and feel broken. But please trust me when I say: you are not broken and you are never alone. There are so many people who are struggling and undergoing similar experiences as you. Even though it may not seem like it, there are many people silently fighting the same battles as you. So many stories are hidden and concealed, and never shared with the world. Society has stigmatized talking about the topic of mental health to be viewed as weakness. However, in my opinion, speaking up is actually a true portrayal of strength.

So many people just need somebody to talk with, lean on, cry with, laugh with, rant to, etc. Humans simply need other humans to relate to. Be that somebody for someone. Check in on your people. Check in with strangers. Check in on yourself.

Resources: Here's a list of some helpful resources and websites with more information and tools. You are not alone.

• Dial 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline)

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/

• Be The 1 To: https://www.bethe1to.com/

• Suicide Prevention Resource Center: https://www.sprc.org/

• Family, Friends, Teachers, Coaches, Teammates, Classmates, Mentors, Therapists, etc. We are all here for you.

You matter. You mattered yesterday, you matter today, and you'll matter tomorrow. You matter. Never forget it. Love you.

Xoxo,

Kaci