RICHMOND, Va. — September is National Suicide Awareness Month, and a Virginia-based group wants more people to know about the help it offers.
New statistics from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) shows that over the last four years, there has been a 6.6% rise in the number of people in the state who went to the emergency room of a hospital to attempt suicide.
The Vice President of Communications for VHHA, Julian Walker, said, “If nothing else, we want to give people a little bit of knowledge about how they might be able to help someone who is thinking about self-harm or step in.
Walker said that from 2020 to 2023, the number of suicide attempts went from 863 to 920. He said that this information matches up with similar numbers from the CDC for the whole country.
Walker said, “In 2022, more than 49,000 deaths were caused by suicide across the country. That’s about one death by suicide every 11 minutes, according to the CDC.” “In 2022, the CDC says that 13.2 million adults in the U.S. had suicidal thoughts, 3.8 million planned to kill themselves, and 1.6 million actually did.”
The Department of soldiers Affairs says that 193 soldiers in Virginia killed themselves in 2021. The Virginia and North Carolina-based Hope For The Warriors helps veterans, active-duty military members, and their families by giving them tools.
The group wants to let people know about some of the tools they have for veterans and service members who may be having a hard time this September.
“We have programs for peer support.” “Physical wellness programs are some of the best things you can do for your mental health or exercise,” said Jory Watson, a clinical social worker who works for Hope For The Warriors. “They’re staffed by veterans who are there to help other veterans.”
Watson said that the group checks everyone who contacts them to see how likely they are to commit suicide. This helps them figure out what they need to do.
“They need to know where to get help and support, and we want them to find someone who can make them feel heard and connect them with the places they need to be for long-term help,” Watson said.
You can also call or text the national 988 helpline if you or someone you know needs help. On their website, you can find out more about Hope For The Warriors.