Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
National Suicide Prevention Month | September 1 – 30, 2023
National Suicide Prevention Week | September 10 – 16, 2023
World Suicide Prevention Day | September 10, 2023
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Toolkit
In honor of Suicide Prevention Month this September, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) is dedicated to supporting the San Diego community and preventing suicide through community awareness and education.
BHS has created a Suicide Prevention Toolkit designed to foster hope and action in destigmatizing conversations about suicide. This year’s campaign, Sharing Hope Together, offers downloadable and shareable content such as social media posts, resource guides, activity worksheets, and more!
Looking for immediate assistance? Dial 9-8-8 to be connected to a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support to people experiencing a suicidal, substance use, or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Toolkit Sections:
For questions about the toolkit, please email Engage.BHS@sdcounty.ca.gov.
During Suicide Prevention Awareness Week (September 10-16), seven days of social media images and sample content were made available to encourage honest conversations about mental health and the role we can play in supporting the prevention of suicide.
Use these posts throughout the month of September to continue to raise awareness and keep the conversation going.
Day 1
Sample Caption
Join Behavioral Health Services and Live Well San Diego to raise awareness and work to prevent suicide countywide and around the globe.
Stay tuned throughout this week to build your knowledge and skills
and become an advocate for suicide awareness and prevention.
#SuicidePreventionAwarenessWeek #SPAW2023 #ShareHopeTogether
#LetsTalkAboutIt #StigmaFreeSD
Image 1 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 2 - English Download | Spanish Download
Day 2
Morning | Sample Caption
Let’s support our friends, family, and community members by recognizing warning signs and potential risk factors for suicide.
#SuicidePreventionAwarenessWeek #SPAW2023
#ShareHopeTogether #LetsTalkAboutIt #StigmaFreeSD
Image 1 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 2 - English Download | Spanish Download
Afternoon | Sample Caption
Misconceptions about suicide can lead to stigma and misunderstandings. It’s important to educate ourselves and others on the facts so we can best support our friends and loved ones. If you or someone you know needs support, call the San Diego Access and Crisis Line at (1-800-724-7240) or 988.
#SuicidePreventionAwarenessWeek #SPAW2023 #ShareHopeTogether
#LetsTalkAboutIt #StigmaFreeSD
Image 1 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 2 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 3 - English Download | Spanish Download
Day 3
Sample Caption
We can support suicide prevention by starting open, honest conversations about mental health and suicide in our communities. Let’s talk about it here and now.
Comment your responses below!
#SuicidePreventionAwarenessWeek #SPAW2023 #ShareHopeTogether
#LetsTalkAboutIt #StigmaFreeSD
Image 1 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 2 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 3 - English Download | Spanish Download
Day 4
Sample Caption
Talking about suicide and mental health can be intimidating, but learning how to have real conversations and be an active listener can help build your confidence.
#SuicidePreventionAwarenessWeek #SPAW2023 #ShareHopeTogether #LetsTalkAboutIt #StigmaFreeSD
Image 1 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 2 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 3 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 4 - English Download | Spanish Download
Day 5
Sample Caption
When we learn how to support our own mental wellness, we become better equipped to support others. Use these coping practices to manage feelings of stress and anxiety.
#SuicidePreventionAwarenessWeek #SPAW2023 #ShareHopeTogether
#LetsTalkAboutIt #StigmaFreeSD
Image 1 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 2 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 3 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 4 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 5 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 6 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 7 - English Download | Spanish Download
Day 6
Sample Caption
Data shows how prevalent and devastating suicide is nationwide. Visit the toolkit to learn more about what you can do to help prevent suicide.
#SuicidePreventionAwarenessWeek #SPAW2023 #ShareHopeTogether
#LetsTalkAboutIt #StigmaFreeSD
Image 1 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 2 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 3 - English Download | Spanish Download
Day 7
Sample Caption
You can support suicide prevention and awareness by using your voice, time, resources, and experiences to become a powerful advocate. Anyone can help, so let’s Share Hope Together 💜
#SuicidePreventionAwarenessWeek #SPAW2023 #ShareHopeTogether #LetsTalkAboutIt #StigmaFreeSD
Image 1 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 2 - English Download | Spanish Download
Image 3 - English Download | Spanish Download
The resources below include local trainings, resources, and phone lines as well as activities and guides to help support your mental health. You can use these yourself or share them out with your community.
- Check out local and virtual trainings and resources | Spanish
- Learn how to reframe negative thoughts to reduce stress and build a mindset that is more supportive of your mental health | Spanish
- Complete this breathing exercise to help refocus or ground yourself whenever you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed | Spanish
- Express your creativity by filling out these journal templates | Spanish
- Create and use positive affirmations to motivate and empower yourself throughout the day | Spanish
- De-stress with these fun and mindful coloring pages | Spanish
Use these phone screensavers, virtual backgrounds, and social graphics to spread the word on suicide prevention awareness month.
Access & Crisis Line
If you or someone you care about is in crisis or would like
behavioral health resources or support, including accessing Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT),
please call the
Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240
(24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Calls are answered by experienced
counselors, with assistance available in over 200 languages.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Dial 9-8-8 to be connected to a national network of
local crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional
support to people experiencing a suicidal, substance use, or mental
health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
It’s Up to Us
The It’s
Up to Us campaign empowers San Diegans to talk
about mental health and substance use disorders, recognize warning
signs of suicide, access resources, and seek help.
Mental Health Resources
Behavioral Health Services
offers a Managing
Your Mental Wellness web page which features a variety of
resources available to help you navigate mental health challenges and
daily stressors.
Live Well San Diego
Live Well San
Diego is a vision for a region that is Building Better
Health, Living Safely, and Thriving.
211 San Diego
211 San
Diego is a free service that helps people get referrals to
local County resources like housing, utilities, food, and employment assistance.
If this is an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Confidential and free of charge, the San Diego Access & Crisis Line (ACL) offers immediate support and resources from an experienced counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on all behavioral health topics including: suicide prevention, crisis intervention, community resources, mental health referrals, alcohol and drug support services and more. Language interpreter services enable the ACL to assist in over 200 languages within seconds.
Quick Links