Do you feel the ripple…
September brings us National Suicide Prevention Month, which focuses on early identification and intervention for those in need. This continues to be a growing public health issue in this country with 43,316 completed suicides occurring (approximately one every 11 minutes) in 2023 (Facts About Suicide, 2025). Suicide, and those who are impacted by it, carries throughout our homes, neighborhoods, cities, states, country, and world. No one is immune to this preventable tragedy, but prevention does require us to be open and willing to step up and sometimes step in.
The impact of suicide on families, friends, and communities used to be estimated at six individuals. More recent research has drastically increased that number to an average of 15 to 30, but up to as many as 135 individuals may be affected by a single suicide (Cerel et al,. 2018).
Have you felt the ripple? Individuals experiencing exposure to suicide have an increased risk of depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress, and suicidal ideation of their own.
It just takes one person to ask the uncomfortable question. It just takes one person to notice the change in behavior and say something. It just takes one person who is willing to offer help. It just takes one person to be brave for one minute and ask for help. Could we prevent another tragic death by suicide if we took one of these steps? Do you feel the ripple…?
A dedicated national month is intended to be a call to action or focus of awareness. This may increase conversations, sharing of information, and public announcements of risks, recognition, and services available. In no way do I minimize the importance of these recognition months, but September will end, and the focus will change to another important awareness topic. So, I ask this of every person who reads this: Find your one or be the one! You do not have to handle this alone, but it does take one to start the process. Any one of these steps has the opportunity to prevent another tragic death by suicide and another individual from coping with the symptoms of exposure to a loss. Do you feel the ripple…?
Dr. Alison Denil, DNP, MBA, RN
Summit Behavioral Health Wisconsin Market CEO
Cerel, J., Brown, M. M., Maple, M., Singleton, M., Van De Venne, J., Moore, M., & Flaherty, C. (2018).
How many people are exposed to suicide? Not six. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 49(2), 529–534. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12450
Facts about Suicide. (2025, March 26). Suicide Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html
