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You're vital in the effort to prevent suicide

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month - resources for you, your practice and your patients

As a mental or behavioral health provider, you’re likely all too aware that suicide is a serious public health concern.

You probably know someone personally, whether it was a client, patient, colleague, neighbor, friend or family member, who has either attempted or died by suicide.

And perhaps at some point in your own life, you have felt so hopeless that suicide seemed like a viable option.

One suicide is too many.

Know the risk factors and recognize warning signs

Knowing the risk factors and recognizing the warning signs for suicide can help prevent suicide.

That’s why we encourage you to share resources from our Healthwise library with anyone you know who could benefit, especially Magellan members in your care.

The following protective measures can also help individuals:

Contact with providers (e.g., follow-up phone calls from a healthcare professional). Effective mental healthcare with easy access to a variety of clinical interventions. Strong connections to individuals, family, community and social institutions. Problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.

Resources for you, your practice and your patients/clients

Access our Healthwise library of resources that you can share with your patients, as well as Magellan’s clinical practice guideline (PDF) for assessing and managing the suicidal patient and a tip sheet (PDF) for keeping the suicidal patient safe.

Join us on Sept. 10 for the #bhXPERT Twitter chat on the topic of preventing youth suicide (supporting National Suicide Prevention Month/Week and World Suicide Prevention Day) with special guest, Greg Dicharry, Magellan Healthcare youth empowerment director.

You’ll also find a digital sign, flyer and poster (PDFs) that you can use in your practice to promote awareness of this vital issue.

Join Magellan in taking action and commit to zero suicides.

^{1, 3} American Psychiatric Association

² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).