Preventing suicide starts with understanding mental health, risk factors, and warning signs.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

“I think, for me, it’s all about having awareness,” Kady Fairfield, Western Civilization and government teacher, said.

Students showed support and solidarity by wearing yellow on Sept. 10 and participating in the World Suicide Prevention Day and Awareness Walk at Plainfield Central High School on Sept. 14.

By proactive intervention and reducing the stigma, people can help prevent suicide.

According to CDC.org, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., and the prevalence of teenage suicides is increasing; the Illinois suicide toll for teens increased by 200 per year from 2014 to 2017.

Despite the increasing prevalence, students and teachers do not have to feel completely hopeless. They can make attempts to prevent it.

“All month, mental health advocates, organizations, survivors and allies, and communities unite to promote prevention awareness,” Rickardo Milos said when contacted through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s message #Bethe1To, a popular hashtag used to raise awareness, encourages spreading the word about actions people can take to help those in distress.

Suicidal thoughts affects the individual themselves, their interpersonal relationships, and the community around them.

“For example, one of the most important reasons for me is that one of my friends, last year, attempted suicide,” Fairfield said.

“She reached out to me, and I realized, as a 33-year-old woman, I had no idea what the next step was. So, what I did was I called the National Suicide Hotline and asked for instructions for how to help my friend,” she said.

“Maybe she was mad at me for the police conducting a wellness check on her, but the important thing is, my friend is still alive,” Fairfield said.

Although a person may not know what is going on in someone’s life, there are often warning signs which could indicate that a person needs help.

“Becoming more withdrawn and not wanting to hang out with friends is a big sign that they are becoming depressed and just overall a change in mood and effort. Being sullener and sadder, along with being less happy-go-lucky than before,” Patrick Keclik, social worker, said.

Plainfield East has taken the initiative to integrate self-care routines into students’ everyday lives through Wednesday Wellness Tips announcements and prevention tip stickers on bathroom mirrors.

On top of taking care of others, it is important to take care of the self.

By being cognizant of others, people can take the initiative to guide others to helpful resources or reach out for help.

“I love Plainfield East because there’s this positive energy at our school,” Fairfield said.

District officials recognized the need for extra assistance and hired 20 additional social workers this year, Kecklic said. This extra support staff allows for students to speak to different professionals without having to wait, he said.

“We’re here to help. We’re here to listen. And we’re here to work through the problems that you go through throughout the day. So, if you are having those thoughts, come down to us and we can get you connected to the right resources so that way you don’t feel alone,” Keclik said.

Students are not alone. There are resources and a supportive community looking out for the students.

Support can be found in outside resources like social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, and counselors.

It can also come from family and friends.

Fairfield said, “My best friend and I have this thing called ‘holding the water.’ It references this professor that said, ‘If I hold this glass of water, how heavy is it?’ People would reply, ‘16 ounces’ or whatever. But then he asked, ‘What if I held it overnight? It would be heavy.’ You could hold your problems for a second and be fine, but if you held it day-in and day-out, it’s unbearable.”

“So, when I have a heavy weight to bear, I ask my best friend if she could hold it just for a second. Just knowing you have people that can hold your water and knowing who those people are is really important,” she said.

If at risk of suicide or worried about a friend, contact the free, confidential, 24/7 suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

Bengals are not alone.