Every year, Suicide Prevention Month serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of fostering mental health and reaching out to those in need.
The month of September is dedicated to raising awareness about suicide prevention and providing support to individuals who have lived experiences of suicide, suicide attempt survivors, and individuals who have experienced a suicide death loss.
Jennifer Lockman, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, stands at the forefront of suicide and depression research. Her research focuses on how individuals with lived experiences of suicide can recover, grow, and thrive. She partners actively with community leaders, family members, and persons with lived experiences of suicide.
Lockman shares insight on the critical role of belongingness in suicide prevention and highlights the importance of support from friends, family, and mental health professionals in aiding recovery for individuals at risk of suicide.
The Role of Belongingness
The fabric of our lives is woven together by the relationships we build and the experiences we go through. Research in suicidality (e.g., Joiner, 2005) suggests that the absence of a feeling of belonging can make this fabric fragile.
“The early 20s and 30s are considered a vital developmental stage marked by attempts to define one's life story and make sense of the world,” says Lockman. “For some individuals, the inability to make meaning of stressful life events, and life events that result in thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, can become connected to an increased risk of suicide.”
Feelings of isolation, the weight of loneliness, and disconnection from social circles, family, or the broader community further compound this risk.
In essence, a lack of belonging can be a critical factor in making individuals vulnerable to suicide during this crucial stage of life development.
How Can Friends and Family Members Help a Suicidal Person?
Recognizing the crucial role of relationships in suicide prevention is imperative for family and friends to offer consistent support to individuals in crisis. Often, persons at risk of suicide might feel that they don't contribute meaningfully to the lives of those around them.
“In such instances, reinforcing their significance, worth, and the positive influence they bring to others can have a profoundly positive effect,” says Lockman. “Reassuring them this way can assist in counteracting feelings of isolation, perceived burdensomeness, and hopelessness.”
These actions can create resilience and mend bonds of belongingness. In these moments, the path to healing and recovery gains strength, reminding individuals that they belong, they matter, that suffering is part of the human condition, that they don’t have to suffer alone, and that assistance is within reach.
Seeking Help and Treatment
Lockman emphasizes the importance of seeking help from mental health providers who are qualified and confident in addressing suicide risk.
"Access to the right treatment can be a game-changer for individuals grappling with thoughts of suicide," says Lockman. "Teaming up with mental health professionals, alongside the support of friends and family, can play a critical role in assisting individuals thinking of suicide and their loved ones on the journey to healing and recovery."
Through this approach, individuals experiencing thoughts of suicide can access the necessary resources, gain a deeper understanding of their emotional pain, and receive the guidance required to initiate a path toward healing and recovery.
"We know more today about these processes than ever before," says Lockman. "Research suggests that individuals who have had a serious suicide attempt can regain footing in the world, find new ways to honor their deeply held values, and contribute to others and the world in the ways they would like to and uniquely can".
"Persons who have thoughts of suicide and their family members should know that recovery from a suicide crisis is absolutely possible with the right help and support systems. In fact, the focus of suicide prevention is not just about immediate safety or preventing death. It’s helping people with unique gifts to give to the world – find new ways to reduce pain, live their talents and values, and thrive.”
Learn more information about suicide prevention here.