National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month kicks off in September

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and community organizations are coming together to show their support. 

NSPAM  aims to raise awareness on the misconceptions of suicide and to spread hope and educational resources to people affected by suicide. The National Alliance on Mental Illness mirrors this goal and ensures that "individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help."

Throughout September, the NAMI will highlight their program “Together for Mental Health,” which encourages people to bring their voices together to advocate for better mental health care, including a crisis response system.

NAMI crisis and awareness resources can be found here. 

The Orange County Sheriff's Office is getting involved as well. Sheriff John Mina spoke out in a video to talk about mental health and suicides within the law enforcement community. 

Sheriff Mina said that law enforcement officers are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty. 

"As law enforcement officers our mental health is just as important as our physical health," Sheriff Mina said. "It's okay to not be okay."

The Ocoee Police Department also chimed in to support the message. 

"By starting the conversation and providing support to those who need it, we can ALL help prevent suicide and save lives," the Ocoee PD said on Twitter. 

If you or someone you know needs help, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255.