It’s National Suicide Prevention Month, and community advocates are focused on making sure you know help and resources are available. The goal throughout the month of September is to create awareness and promote actions people can take to prevent suicides.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN CRISIS, CALL 988 OR START A CHAT HERE
News4JAX is partnering with the city of Jacksonville to provide you with a chance to talk one-on-one with mental health professionals as well as those who have stories to share about how they overcame their own struggles.
Our Suicide Prevention: Mental Health Matters Jax phone bank will be open Wednesday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. You can call (904) 346-4630 or (800) 366-9598.
Discussing mental health -- including suicide -- can be difficult for many. But mental health professionals say it’s an important conversation to have. Studies show depression rates throughout the United States tripled in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with depression now affecting 1 in 3 Americans.
The city of Jacksonville launched Mental Health Matters Jax back in May of this year, to provide a place for people to learn more about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and know about the local resources available for children and adults -- and to ensure they know that they can get help quickly. You will find the city’s resource page here.