September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Suicide Prevention Month is a time to shed light on a deeply important issue that affects millions of lives across the globe. It's a month dedicated to breaking the silence, reducing stigma, and fostering hope.

Whether you're struggling yourself or supporting someone who is, this month reminds us that help is always available and you are not alone. Mental health matters every day, but September offers a powerful opportunity to amplify voices, share resources, and encourage open conversations.

Organizations like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provide support, education, and tools to help individuals and communities take action.

As a community here at Deal, we want to honor those we’ve lost, uplift those who are hurting, and commit to building a world where mental health is prioritized and compassion leads the way. We will do this by setting up a table during grade level lunches on Tuesday, September 30 and with the help of our students we will create A "suicide prevention post-it heart" activity. This heart involves students and staff writing messages of hope and/or their reasons for living on post-it notes and arranging them to form a heart on a public wall or display. This interactive mural project raises awareness, encourages community connection, and creates a visual symbol of support to reduce stigma around mental health and suicide.

 In addition, we will be providing resources from The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline which is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources with national standards and best practices as well as the names of support team members within each grade level here at Deal.