SAN ANTONIO — The number of suicides in the U.S. hit a record high in 2022 according to the CDC. A new campaign aims to bring those numbers back down, and all it could take is a conversation.
It is called the '#TalkAwayTheDark' campaign. Its goal is to empower people so they can spot the warning signs for suicide and begin a conversation that lets someone who needs support know that there is help, and helps them find a resource.
Vic Armstrong, the Vice-President for Health Equity for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention told KENS 5, "One of the things it illustrates is that you can actually save a life in one conversation. That conversation might be the social connection that helps that person decide that I'm going to live another day."
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S. and in 2022, almost 50,000 Americans died by suicide. For everyone one that did, close to another 35 attempted.
The AFSP has a guide to help you have that difficult conversation.
"What the 'real convo guide' is, is a step by step guideline on how you have that conversation, how you engage in conversation and then how you can encourage that person to reach out for help and how you can connect them with help," Armstrong said.
When it comes to the warning signs, look for increased use of alcohol or drugs. If someone is withdrawing from activities, Isolating from friends and family, sleeping too much or appearing fatigued or becoming overly agressive. When it comes to their mood, keep an eye out for depression, anxiety, loss of interest, irritability or anger and humiliation or shame.
This is especially important if they've lost a loved one in the past to suicide. "There are a lot of things that we can do to connect with people that have lost loved ones to suicide, and help them also to feel empowered, to help them to be able to tell their story and to help them know that they are not alone," added Armstrong.
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