Suicide Prevention Awareness
- Mental Health Matters Middle Georgia
- Aug 16
- 2 min read
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, promote hope, reduce stigma and make sure people know where support is available.
At Mental Health Matters, we believe awareness is important, but it must also lead to action. That means talking openly about mental health, learning how to recognize when someone may be struggling, sharing resources like 988 and building a community where asking for help is treated as a sign of strength.
The Impact Here at Home
Suicide affects families and communities right here in Houston County.
According to local Coroner reporting shared with Mental Health Matters:
28 lives were reported lost to suicide in the prior reporting year.
14 lives have been reported lost to suicide so far in 2026.
Behind every number is a person, a family and a community changed by that loss.
These figures represent confirmed reported suicide deaths and may not reflect every loss in which suicide could have been a factor. Determining intent in some deaths, including overdoses, can be difficult.
Local reporting has also highlighted the impact of suicide among Veterans in our community. Nationally, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported 6,398 Veteran suicide deaths in 2023, approximately 17.5 each day. The report also found that 61% of Veterans who died by suicide had not received VA health care in the year before their death.
Suicide prevention cannot belong only to hospitals, therapists or crisis services. It takes an informed community that knows how to recognize distress, reach out and connect people with help.
From Awareness to Action
There are practical ways each of us can help strengthen suicide prevention in our community:
SHARE 988
Save the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in your phone.
Share it with your family, workplace, school, church and community.
Get Trained
Mental Health First Aid can help participants learn how to recognize signs of a mental health or substance-use challenge, begin a conversation and connect someone with appropriate support
Ask the Question
Don't let fear or stigma keep you from checking in with someone who may be struggling.
Support our Veterans
Veterans and their loved ones can dial 988 and press 1 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line.
One conversation. One trained person. One shared resource. One connection can make a difference.
Know 988. Learn the signs. Get trained. Reach out.
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