SPREAD THE WORD
Help us spread awareness and the tools needed to prevent suicide and turn the trend downward. Let others know you care.
Ensure your friends and family know the warning signs and the steps to take if they suspect someone may be at risk.
PREVENTION
SHAREABLES
Help Spread the Word
Sharing on social media or posting in a public place helps reduce stigma, build awareness and empower community members to prevent suicide in their school, church, family, workplace, club, neighborhood, and other groups. Scroll down to find images, infographics, posters, flyers and videos to share with as many people as possible.
General instructions for sharing images below:
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Desktop - Click on the image to open it in the lightbox, then right click on the image, select Save As and save the file to your computer or laptop. Go to your social media platform of choice to share the saved image.
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Mobile - Touch the image and hold 2 or 3 seconds until a menu appears and gives the option to Save the image to your device. Go to your social media platform of choice to share the saved image.
CALLING FOR NOMINATIONS
SPAN relies on leadership from our community to fulfill its mission. We are calling for nominations of adults and youth to serve on our Leadership Council. Nominate someone you know and help us spread the word. Click HERE for more information.
Ask. Talk. Connect.
Ask. Talk. Connect. is a campaign used by SPAN with messaging focusing on two groups of people – individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis themselves and others who may know someone in distress, as well as the community around them.
SPAN wants everyone to know that resources and support are available, and to break down stigma by making conversations about mental health common. That’s why SPAN’s updated messaging theme is "Ask. Talk. Connect."
Our message tells individuals in distress it’s ok to ask for help and support, talk to those they trust, and connect with crisis or long-term mental health support services. At the same time, we want to encourage people in the community and loved ones to ask questions about suicide, talk openly about mental health and suicide prevention to help reduce stigma, and connect with trainings to learn skills and tools to have conversations about suicide and mental health.
See ASK. TALK. CONNECT Shareables Below:
Ask. Talk. Connect. Messaging
Why Talk About Suicide?
All of us have a responsibility to support the mental health of our community members. Death by suicide is a public health crisis throughout the nation, and Virginia is no exception. According to data from the CDC, 45,979 people died by suicide in the U.S. in 2020. Another 1.2 million adults attempted suicide. In Virginia, more than 1,200 people died by suicide.
Certain groups are at higher risk. For example, high school students who identify as LGBTQ+ are 4 times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. There is also a growing suicide crisis among young people: Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 15–24.
Other groups who are at higher risk of suicide include veterans, older adults, and people with disabilities.
Together, we can make a difference in our community. We can start by educating ourselves about the known risk factors for suicide and what can help a person in crisis. Knowledge and understanding about mental health challenges also reduces the stigma associated with reaching out for help. The fear of encountering stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to seeking help. By raising awareness, and making these conversations commonplace, we can all help save lives.
If you have lost a loved one to suicide, it can be devastating. But you are not alone, there is help. There are many local support groups to connect with throughout Northern Virginia.
What Can I Do?
If you’re having a mental health crisis or know someone who is, know that it’s OK to not be OK. It can be tough, but it is OK to ask for help. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and talk with a trained counselor. The 988 lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Educate yourself
- Take a class or attend a workshop
- Get to know the warning signs that someone might be struggling with their mental health, some of which are:
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Significant changes in mood or behavior
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Becoming withdrawn or isolated from friends and family
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Increased use of drugs or alcohol
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Talking about feeling trapped, hopeless, or in unbearable pain
- Talk about mental health with your friends, neighbors and coworkers
Raise awareness
- Host an event in your community
- Post messages on your personal or organization’s social media networks (use this messaging and the shareables below)
- Post flyers around your community, school, workplace, faith centers or anywhere people congregate (below)
Speak up if you think someone is in crisis. You can start a conversation that could save a life.
Ask: How are you doing? Are you thinking about suicide? How can I help?
Talk: Support them in person or on the phone. Follow up once they are safe.
Connect: Call 988 to help them find support and talk with a trained counselor.
Ask. Talk. Connect. Social Media Shareables
Ask. Talk. Connect. Posters
Print the posters below to post in your workplace, center of worship or other gathering place. To print, click on the image and select "get link" to access the pdf version and print.
Lock & Talk.
Lock Meds.
Lock Guns.
Talk Safety.
Lock & Talk is a statewide program in Virginia to restrict lethal means such as medications and guns to prevent suicide. For someone in crisis, research shows buying time can be key. Hours count. Minutes count.
Providing locking medication boxes for prescription medicines and locks for guns is an evidence-based strategy for restricting access to these often lethal means of suicide. Lock & Talk not only provides locking med boxes and gun locks, it also gives people the knowledge and tools to talk about safety with those in crisis or in need of support.
SPAN partners with CSBs in Northern Virginia to raise awareness of Lock & Talk, and connect community members.
Lock and Talk Social Media Shareables
Lock and Talk Wallet Cards (for printing, cards are 2-sided)
Lock and Talk Firearm Safety Flyers (for printing)
English
Spanish
Lock and Talk Gun Lock Video
Click the share option below or copy & paste the URL/link: https://youtu.be/pur6JL_lz7E?si=KU-qxotg_LEK9RhW
WARNING SIGNS.
Download and share this infographic with your community and groups to help raise awareness of warning signs.
Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 (para ayuda en español, llame al 988) if you need help either for yourself or someone you care about.
Download in English - Warning Signs of Suicide (nih.gov)
Download in Spanish - Señales de advertencia sobre el suicidio (nih.gov)
Warning Signs of Suicide Infographic - share on social media or print and post.
KNOW THE SIGNS.
This "Know The Signs" website created for a California campaign provides an interactive way to explore how to recognize signs of suicidal risk in teens and adults, find the right words to have life-saving conversations and reach out to save lives. Click on "play" or the button below.
Know the Signs Video
Shareable URL/link to copy and paste for social media and embedding -
