Suicide Prevention – What It Means to Us
Sanford Clinical Director Tessa Sterling says, “Suicide Prevention Month means hope for the future.”
Updated 9/8/2026
Suicide prevention and Suicide Prevention Month (September) are public health responses to death by suicide. For the public, it involves awareness campaigns, training, and education about the risk factors, warning signs, and protective factors that help keep people safe. For anyone in the public who is interested in learning more about suicide prevention, we offer a list of resources below.
“As the CEO of a behavioral health company, I want to emphasize that suicide prevention is a collective responsibility. We must work together to create a supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable opening up about their struggles. Every conversation, every action, and every resource can make a difference in saving lives. At Sanford, we prioritize mental health, help break the stigma, and offer hope to those who need it most. ” Tracy Rogers, LPC, Sanford Chief Executive Officer
Suicide Prevention
We cannot fully know what is happening inside a person’s mind, but while we can’t always predict with certainty, we can reduce risk and create protective environments. Risk factors combined with warning signs can determine the risk of suicide. Risk factors include mental health issues, substance use issues, or a recent significant and upsetting change in life, like a job or relationship loss, or a series of events that have left someone in an unstable situation, unable to cope with the cumulative effect. Warning signs can include higher stress levels, sleep or appetite disruption, erratic moods, and more. If someone has decided to die by suicide, they may give away their belongings, write goodbye notes, or say cryptic things and talk about death.
Who is at Risk?
People with mental health or substance use issues are at higher risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In the U.S., men die by suicide almost 4 times more frequently than women, although women are more likely to attempt suicide. Women aged 45-64 have the highest rates of suicide among women, and adolescent girls have a higher rate of suicide attempts than their male counterparts. The highest suicide rates among working adults were in the mining, construction, and arts and entertainment industries. CDC research released in 2026 using 2022–2023 data on construction workers states that construction workers have the highest suicide rates among major occupational groups.
In 2024, firearms were involved in 27,593 suicide deaths, accounting for more than 56% of all suicides in the United States. Because of this, an important suicide prevention message in our country is that if you’re concerned about somebody having suicidal thoughts, increasing toward plans or actions, and they own a gun, have a conversation about their access to lethal means. Ask, “Can we do something to ensure your gun is safe while you are in crisis?” There are many options for temporarily securing a firearm. Counseling on Access to Firearms is a free online course for healthcare and social services providers. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/data/
Suicide Prevention Resources
Using the 988 Lifeline is free. When you call, text, or chat with the 988 Lifeline, your conversation is confidential. The 988 Lifeline offers judgment-free care. Connecting with someone can help save your life. If you know your local area crisis line, call it directly.
https://www.samhsa.gov/suicide(opens in new tab)
(Suicide Prevention Information)
https://sprc.org/(opens in new tab)
(SAMHSA Suicide Information)
https://zerosuicide.edc.org/(opens in new tab)
(Organizational Model for Suicide Safer Treatment)
https://qprinstitute.com/(opens in new tab)
(Training for General Public or Non-Clinical Healthcare Staff)
(Great Training for Clinicians)
https://suicidology.org/(opens in new tab)
(American Association for Suicidology)
https://kevinssong.org/(opens in new tab)
(Mission: Saving lives through suicide prevention education and offering hope and healing to survivors.)
(Grand Rapids non-profit providing compassionate support for those affected by suicide/mental health)
