National Suicide Prevention Week

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How a Depression Treatment Center Can Help With Suicide Prevention

National Suicide Prevention Week is being recognized from September 4 to September 10 in 2022. The goal of the annual campaign is to spread awareness about preventing suicide and recognizing the warning signs. Reducing the stigma that surrounds suicidal ideation and other mental health concerns is also an important part of National Suicide Prevention Week (NSPW). Removing barriers to mental health services, including social stigmas, can help save lives.

A History of National Suicide Prevention Week

National Suicide Prevention Week is held during the week that corresponds with World Suicide Prevention Day. The American Association of Suicidology has sponsored NSPW since 1975. It is the association’s hope that by drawing attention to the problem of suicide, lives will be saved, and people in need of treatment for mental health concerns will get the support they need.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the United States, suicide is the leading cause of death. It is the second leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 14. Suicide prevention is possible, and everyone can play a role in saving lives.

National Suicide Prevention Week is an opportunity to educate yourself about how you can reduce stigma and find help for individuals who are at risk of dying by suicide.

Depression and Suicide Prevention: The Warning Signs

Not everyone who is having thoughts about suicide shows obvious signs, but many people do. Understanding the signs of depression and suicidal thoughts may help you save a life. The warning signs of suicide include:

  • Expressing feelings of deep shame or guilt
  • Feeling like a burden to others
  • Wanting to die, saying they want to die, or wishing they were dead
  • Feeling helpless, trapped, and having no hope for the future
  • Speaking about emotional or physical pain as unbearable
  • Withdrawing from friends and family members
  • Making a will
  • Giving away belongings and saying goodbyes
  • Changes in eating and sleeping habits
  • Taking dangerous risks
  • Using substances such as drugs or alcohol more often

Depression is a serious mental health concern that can lead to suicidal ideation. Feelings of sadness or emptiness become so intense that the individual may feel there’s no reason to continue living.

Symptoms of depression may start out mild, but if untreated, depression will cause problems that are noticeable to almost everyone. Poor performance at work or school is another important sign and is often a consequence of experiencing other symptoms, such as an inability to concentrate or fatigue.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the warning signs of depression or suicide, make an appointment with a mental health professional, as soon as possible.

If you think you’re going to hurt yourself or you suspect someone you know is going to harm themselves, call 911. Stay with the person until help arrives.

4 Ways a Depression Treatment Center in Newport Beach Can Help

Depression treatment centers offer many benefits to people who are struggling with depression or experiencing suicidal ideation. Depressive disorders are serious mental health concerns that require medical help. Ignoring the warning signs of depression can lead to worsening symptoms. Fortunately, depression typically responds well to treatment, and this makes suicide prevention possible.

1. Emotional Safety

Mental health challenges can make a person feel unsafe on almost every level. Symptoms of depression may cause them to mistrust their own judgment or behaviors. Receiving treatment in a mental health center provides a level of emotional and physical safety. There are no (or minimal) triggers to worry about, and if a person is struggling to maintain emotional balance, a team of trained professionals is there to help.

2. Focus on Healing

Trying to take care of yourself while holding down a job, taking care of children, or meeting other daily responsibilities can be overwhelming. The stress involved with so many demands may even be making your mental health concerns worse. Getting away from it all is not an escape; it is a chance to do the hard work of recovering your mental health so that you can return to being an effective employee and emotionally present parent.

3. Daily Therapy

A weekly therapy session isn’t always enough, especially if you’re feeling despondent about your mental health status. In a mental health center, you have access to a variety of therapies every day. Being immersed in the therapeutic process means you have access to medical, pharmaceutical, and mental health resources 24/7.

4. (r)TMS therapy

TMS therapy, also known as rTMS therapy, stands for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. This treatment can help to improve symptoms of anxiety and depression by stimulating certain nerve cells within the brain. TMS therapy is non-invasive and doesn’t require anesthesia. It has relatively mild side effects, which usually dissipate after a few sessions. TMS therapy is a good fit for those who haven’t seen benefits from psychotherapy.

Learn More About Suicide Prevention

At Lido Wellness Center, we are committed to ending the stigmas associated with depression and other mental health disorders. We are proud participants of National Suicide Prevention Week. Call or contact Lido Wellness Center to learn more about how you can help spread awareness about National Suicide Prevention Week or if someone you know is showing signs of depression and suicide.