SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week, May 8 – 14, 2022, brings together communities and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of substance use prevention and positive mental health. Each day of NPW focuses on a different substance use and mental health topic.

Wednesday's topic: Preventing Suicide: Everyone Plays a Role

Someone dies from suicide every 12 minutes in the United States. Suicide impacts all communities and is on the rise throughout the country. In recent years, significant increases in suicide deaths have occurred among women and in rural communities. Certain groups are more at risk, including adults ages 45+, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Youth and Young Adults, Veterans, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Visit the Suicide Prevention Lifeline to learn about suicide risk factors, warning signs, and how you can make a positive impact. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is another helpful resource that provides 24/7, free and confidential support to people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

If interested, the University of Washington is offering a free, online suicide prevention training, designed for medical professionals and client-facing staff in Washington State, through June 30.