September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to acknowledge the lives affected by suicide, encourage conversations about mental health, and remind people that help is available.
At Bio SoCal, suicide is unfortunately something we encounter regularly in our work. We are called into homes, apartments, vehicles, hotels, and other locations after families have experienced an unimaginable loss. While our role is to help families with the difficult suicide cleanup that follows, these situations also serve as a powerful reminder of why suicide prevention and awareness matter.
We see what families experience after a suicide. We see the shock, the unanswered questions, and the grief that can follow. Because of that, we believe it is important to stay clued in to the people around us—our family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and loved ones.
Pay Attention to the People You Care About
Sometimes someone who is struggling will openly say they need help. Other times, the signs may be less obvious. A person may begin withdrawing from people they normally spend time with, experience significant changes in behavior or mood, talk about feeling hopeless or like a burden, give away possessions, or simply seem different from the person you know.
You don’t have to be a mental health professional to check in. A simple conversation can begin with: “I’ve noticed you haven’t seemed like yourself lately. Are you doing okay?” Sometimes being willing to notice, ask, listen, and remain present can help someone feel less alone.
Checking in is especially important when someone has recently experienced a major loss, relationship problems, financial difficulties, health challenges, substance-use issues, or another significant life change. We often know when someone close to us is going through a difficult period. Don’t be afraid to reach out more than once.
988 Has Made Crisis Support Easier to Reach
One of the most important suicide-prevention resources available today is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Anyone experiencing emotional distress, a mental health crisis, or suicidal thoughts can call or text 988 to connect with trained crisis counselors. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People can also contact 988 when they are concerned about someone else.
The service is being used extensively. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the 988 Lifeline received more than 8 million contacts during 2025 alone through calls, texts, chats, and ASL videophone services. SAMHSA reported in May 2026 that the Lifeline had received more than 25 million contacts since its launch, demonstrating just how many people are reaching out for support. That number represents millions of moments when someone struggling was able to reach another human being.
The simplicity of 988 matters. During a crisis, remembering a long telephone number or knowing which local organization to contact can be difficult. 988 gives people one easy number to remember.
There Are Reasons for Hope
Suicide remains a serious public-health issue. SAMHSA reports that 48,824 people in the United States died by suicide in 2024. Behind every statistic is a person, a family, and people whose lives were changed.
But prevention efforts matter. SAMHSA notes that 988 now provides around-the-clock crisis support by phone, text, and chat, connecting people directly with trained crisis counselors. The agency also reported encouraging research showing improvements in suicide-related outcomes among young people following the introduction of 988.
Continued investment is also expanding the system. In September 2026, federal officials announced $252 million in funding for 988, suicide prevention, and mobile crisis services as part of broader behavioral-health funding.
Stay Connected
Suicide prevention isn’t limited to September. It happens when we pay attention to each other throughout the year.
- Call the friend you haven’t heard from.
- Check on the family member who has been unusually quiet.
- Ask someone how they’re doing—and give them enough time to actually answer.
- Listen without immediately trying to fix everything, and, if something doesn’t feel right, take it seriously.
At Bio SoCal, we unfortunately see many situations where suicide has already occurred. Our experience makes us especially aware of the importance of staying connected with the people in our lives and making sure they know there are places to turn when life feels overwhelming.
During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we want to acknowledge the families who have lost someone to suicide, the people who have survived suicide attempts, those currently struggling, and the counselors, healthcare professionals, first responders, family members, and friends working every day to keep people connected to help.
Most importantly, we want people to remember one simple number:
Call or text 988.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or use the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline chat at 988lifeline.org.
Sometimes reaching out is the first step toward getting through a moment that feels impossible.
