30 Daily Actions Anyone Can Do for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Daily Actions for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

• September 1: Learn about the impact of firearm suicide in your state

  Visit EveryStat.org to learn about how gun violence impacts the communities you care about. Use the filters to see data about how many people in your state or nationwide die by gun violence, including firearm suicide.

• September 2: Use our presentation to learn about the myths and facts of gun suicide

  There are many misconceptions about gun violence in the United States. This presentation outlines how gun suicide compares to other forms of gun violence, like mass shootings and school shootings. It also highlights what research tells us about the role that mental health and gun access play in gun suicide.

• September 3: Read about the risk factors and warning signs of suicide

  As this resource from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention underscores, there is no single cause for suicide. There are, however, risk factors and warning signs that may increase someone’s likelihood of a suicide attempt. Learning these risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs can save lives.

• September 4: Learn about the impact of gun suicide on different demographic groups

  Our Suicide Prevention Awareness Month landing page has social media graphics that feature statistics about the impact of firearm suicide on different demographic groups. Scroll through the graphics, then share one on your social media feed to help educate others about the crisis of gun suicide.

• September 5: Sign up for an Introduction to Be SMART Zoom call

  The Be SMART campaign was launched in 2015 to promote responsible gun ownership in order to reduce child gun deaths. Whether you’re a gun owner, or you know someone who owns a gun, there is a role for everyone in the conversation around secure gun storage. Sign up for an upcoming Be SMART training call to learn more about how the Be SMART program works and what it means to be a volunteer.

• September 6: Send a check-in text to 3 people you haven’t heard from in a while

  It can mean the world to someone to know that someone is thinking about them, especially during hard times. Think of three loved ones you haven’t heard from in a while, then send them a text to say hello. 

  Sample message: “Hi [friend]! It’s been a minute since we talked. Just want you to know that you’re on my mind and that I value our [friendship, relationship, phone calls]. Would love to find a time to connect!”

• September 7: Share the contact information for a crisis hotline number

  Post a crisis hotline number on your social media, your workplace Slack channel, or a physical bulletin board. Be sure to use safe, hope-focused language like “Talking saves lives” or “There is help and hope.” Our Suicide Prevention Awareness Month landing page has social media graphics that share information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in both English and Spanish.

  You can also share the following resources:

  • If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, you can call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to chat with a counselor from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress anywhere in the US.
  • The Trevor Project offers 24/7, free, and confidential support for LGBTQ youth. Trained counselors with The Trevor Project understand the challenges LGBTQ young people face. To reach The Trevor Project’s crisis support, call or text 866-488-7386, or use their chat service by visiting thetrevorproject.org/get-help. You can also text START to 678-678 to connect with their 24/7 text line.
  • Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund resources for survivors of suicide loss

• September 8: Take a free online course on lethal means safety

  Resources like Harvard’s Means Matter Campaign are designed to introduce a non-controversial, “lethal means counseling” approach to reducing a suicidal person’s access to firearms and other lethal means.

• September 9: Learn the five action steps for communicating with someone who may be suicidal

  Visit BeThe1To.com to learn five action steps for communicating with someone who may be suicidal. These steps are supported by evidence in the field of suicide prevention.

• September 10 (World Suicide Prevention Day): Attend a candlelight vigil or awareness walk

  On World Suicide Prevention Day, together, we can make a difference and work toward a future where suicide prevention is prioritized, and everyone feels supported to get the help that works for them. Learn more here about World Suicide Prevention Day resources and events.

• September 11: Read survivor stories on Moments That Survive

  MomentsThatSurvive.org shares stories from gun violence survivors in their own words. Learn more about the lives forever changed by gun violence. 

• September 12: Explore recommendations for action to prevent youth suicide

  The updated “Too Many, Too Soon: Youth Firearm Suicide in the United States” report from Everytown Research includes how we can take actions to mitigate the risk of suicide and potentially save lives. Actions include learning about:

  • Risk factors and warning signs, 
  • How to talk about mental health, and
  • Preventive programs and tools to put time and space between a young person in crisis and firearms.

• September 13: Make a Safety Plan and share this simple tool with others

  The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has a safety plan template for people who are struggling or in crisis. Use this resource yourself or share it with someone else in your life. 

  Remember: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, you can call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to chat with a counselor from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress anywhere in the US.

• September 14: Read about requesting an Extreme Risk Protection Order in your state

  Access to a gun can be the difference between life and death in a moment of crisis. When someone you love shows warning signs that they might try to harm themselves or someone else, it can feel like there is no way you can help. In many states, you can request an Extreme Risk Protection Order to temporarily remove guns from the situation and help keep your loved one safe. Learn more at OneThingYouCanDo.org. 

• September 15: Leave a positive note or card in a public place (library, gym, coffee shop)

  Remember to use safe, hope-focused language like “Talking saves lives” or “There is help and hope.”

• September 16: Learn about ways to intervene to prevent someone in crisis from accessing a gun

  Suicidal crises are often very brief. Ensuring that someone experiencing a crisis does not have easy access to lethal means can prevent a moment of despair from becoming an irreversible tragedy. When someone is experiencing a suicidal crisis, their family member and friends are often the first to see signs. As such, we consider them “natural helpers.” 

  There are many gun access interventions that someone can take depending on the severity of the crisis and other factors, including whether the person in crisis owns firearms, how many firearms are in the home, how those firearms are stored, and how willing the person is to voluntarily reduce their own access to firearms. Once engaged and educated about these actions, natural helpers, including healthcare providers, counselors, and other crisis responders, can work with those in crisis to determine which interventions make the most sense for their particular circumstances. Learn more here.

• September 17: Talk to a friend or family member about the risks of unsecured firearms in the home after reading about responsible and secure firearm storage

  Everyone, from parents to community leaders, wants to keep children and teens safe. When guns aren’t properly stored, tragedy can strike. That’s why storing guns securely—storing them locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition—both at home and in vehicles is so important. Learn more about secure gun storage.

• September 18: Explore the multi-faceted approach needed to address the factors that impact firearm suicide

  Everytown Research’s Firearm Suicide in the United States report includes actions we can take at the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels to mitigate the risk of suicide and save lives. Learn more in the report. 

• September 19: Share life-saving information about The Trevor Project

  The Trevor Project offers 24/7, free, and confidential support for LGBTQ youth. Trained counselors with The Trevor Project understand the challenges LGBTQ young people face. To reach The Trevor Project’s crisis support, call or text 866-488-7386, or use their chat service by visiting thetrevorproject.org/get-help. You can also text START to 678-678 to connect with their 24/7 text line.

• September 20: Learn how you can respond to posts on social media that indicate emotional distress

  The Department of Veterans Affairs designed a #BeThere toolkit to help you navigate scenarios if someone has expressed emotional distress, feelings of crisis, or thoughts of suicide on social media.

• September 21: Recognize the role of guns in suicide

  Watch our SMART Conversations PSA video about the role that guns play in suicide, or review our facts and resources on child firearm suicide. These resources, available in both English and Spanish, talk about warning signs and statistics about firearm suicide. They also provide crisis intervention resources. 

• September 22: Learn about protecting LGBTQ+ youth from firearm suicide

  BeSMARTforKids.org has downloadable resources in English and Spanish that discuss the risks of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth. The resources provide actionable tactics and useful information on how to support and affirm LGBTQ+ youth, and emphasize how secure storage can help prevent firearm suicide.

• September 23: Sign up for AskEverytown, a first-of-its-kind AI chatbot that provides in-depth, accessible expertise on gun violence statistics, laws, and insights

  AskEverytown is free and open to anyone seeking to understand, address, or drive awareness of our gun violence crisis. This tool harnesses the power of AI to understand data on gun violence in the United States. You can request access to the chatbot here.

  Note: AskEverytown is not a crisis line or suicide prevention tool, and it should not be used as such. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, you can call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to chat with a counselor from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress anywhere in the US.

• September 24: Encourage your local library or community center to carry suicide prevention materials or display a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline poster

  The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has print materials available that are free to the public. Look through their resources, then suggest one (or more) that your local library or community center can display to help people who are experiencing mental health, substance use, and suicidal distress.

• September 25: Watch “How to Help a Loved One Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors”

  Watch the recorded webinar from The Center for Suicide Research and Prevention, then explore the additional resources to learn more about how you can help a loved one struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

• September 26: Learn about the importance of waiting periods that create a buffer between someone in crisis and their access to firearms

  A waiting period law requires a certain number of days to pass between the purchase of a gun and when the buyer can actually take possession of that gun. This time creates a buffer between someone having a suicidal crisis and access to a gun. Learn more about waiting periods.

• September 27: Share a resource you explored this month on social media.

  Always include crisis helplines and support services in your posts. Use language such as “Help is available” or “There is help and hope” that promotes hope, connection, and resources.

• September 28: Understand the 11 risk factors for intimate partner homicide-suicide and 5 ways to prevent it.

  The Everytown Research report Dual Tragedies: Domestic Homicide-Suicides with a Firearm highlights 11 common risk factors identified through focus group discussions. It also includes five recommendations to create opportunities for awareness, intervention, and prevention.

• September 29: Reflect on your month and journal one thing that surprised or moved you

  Some brainstorming ideas:

  • Was there a statistic that you were surprised to learn?
  • Did you read a Moments That Survive Story that has stuck with you?
  • Did you learn about any new ways to work toward firearm suicide prevention?

• September 30: Commit to continuing one of these actions every month for the next year—and tell someone about it!

  Preventing firearm suicide requires strategies that involve individuals, families, and communities. We all have a role to play in spreading hope and ensuring that everyone has access to resources to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help. Review this 30-day action list and pick which action you plan to revisit next month. Then send this list to a loved one and ask them to do the same!

  Sample message: “Hi [friend]! Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund has a list of 30 ways anyone can help prevent firearm suicide. Next month, I’m planning to [insert action, e.g., ask my favorite coffee shop to put up a 988 poster]. Want to join me?”