National Suicide Prevention Month occurs every September in the US, and I can’t help buy feel compelled to discuss suicide and how we can help.

If you’ve been following Val In Vogue for an extended period of time, you’re probably aware of the fact that I share my mental health struggles here in the hopes of de-stigmatizing the topic. Never ever do I want someone else to go through the hell that is suicide or suicidal ideation.

So, when we have opportunities to openly discuss the topic without shame and with purpose, I take full advantage of them.

This was no exception this week, which happens to be National Suicide Prevention Week. A week which calls us to share stories of suicidal ideation and suicide in order to keep the conversation going.

I do want to provide a trigger warning here: in this week’s episode of Very Vogue with Val, we do discuss suicide and suicidal ideation.

However, I do offer hope and identification tips when it comes to helping yourself or someone else deal with something so painful. Do listen. I hope you find strength, healing, and maybe even a door opening toward another conversation or two in this episode.

All of the helpful tips and conversation starters I mention here came courtesy of the wonderful NAMI website. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a wonderful national organization that does help others cope and learn – with many free resources too. Keep them on your radar!

For a list of suicidal warning signs, how to cope, and how to help, go here.