September is Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, which aims to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with this important topic.
According to the CDC, suicide rates have increased by 36% between 2000 and 2022. It was the cause of death for 49,476 people in 2022. They estimate the number of people thinking about or attempting suicide to be in the millions. When we think about the mental health of our children, it is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-14.
A combination of circumstances, including a mental health condition, a severe physical illness, or other life events such as prolonged bereavement, social isolation, or legal or financial difficulties, could lead someone to have thoughts of suicide. Because people often avoid discussing the topic of suicide, experiencing thoughts of self-harm or death can feel isolating.
While suicide occurs more often than some may think, it’s important for those in distress to know they are not alone. Conversations around this topic should be normalized.
Our mental health provider, Lyra Health, helps us to raise awareness, break the silence, and promote understanding about how we can support someone having suicidal thoughts. Lyra now offers a variety of eLearning courses and structured small group discussions on timely topics facilitated by mental health experts at Lyra. Members can access support by engaging with other members and a trained mental health provider.
Here are the steps to access the Lyra platform and register an account:
- Go to snowflake.lyrahealth.com
- Register with an email address (you can use your personal email address)
- Click on “Library” and explore the resources available to you
If you or a dependent needs support or would like to speak to someone about suicidal thoughts or any mental health concern, please log in to your Lyra account to access help, or call them at (844) 927-0110. You can learn how to spot the signs of suicide risk and play an important role in minimizing this stigma by normalizing the discussion.
In good health,
Your Snowflake Benefits Team
