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If there is one thing that can be said about life, it is that it’s ever-changing and unpredictable. Everyone experiences difficult times in their life at one point or another. Many have coping mechanisms and ways to process traumas. But some individuals battle a darker force that not all can relate to or necessarily understand.

Mental health has become an epidemic and no one, no matter their rank, title or tax bracket, is immune to its risks. Even the most successful and well-respected individuals can be held in a chokehold by the gnarled and unmerciful fingers of depression.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and with that comes a plea to break the stigmas surrounding depression and suicide, understand the risks and recognize the signs of a loved one in crisis.

Government and non-profit entities promote Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month during this time. Though it’s true that increasing access to mental health care and expanded conversations about the subjects in online spaces have allowed some people to feel more comfortable sharing their struggles with things like suicidal ideation and addiction, there is still a significant stigma against these topics.

Many individuals feel embarrassed by their depression and withhold sharing their struggles in fear that they’ll seem weak.

According to the American Psychiatric Association while “the public may accept the medical or genetic nature of a mental health disorder and the need for treatment, many people still have a negative view of those with mental illness.”

The APA separates this stigma into three categories: public, self and institutional stigma. Public stigma is external, where another person has negative thoughts about a person’s mental health condition. Self-stigma is internal, where a person with a mental health condition thinks negatively about themselves because of it. Institutional stigma refers to a lack of opportunities or a decreased quality of life for those with a mental health condition due to a lack of resources, lack of access to health care, or discrimination. All three of these types of stigmas cause difficulties for people experiencing mental health struggles.

One way to help those who may be privately struggling is to normalize vocalizing struggles. Recognizing that it is the human condition to be nuanced and complex opens important dialogue that is especially important for younger generations who may be battling with thoughts they don’t recognize.

Increasing conversations on these topics creates a safe place for children and adults to be vulnerable. It is paramount that to show children that vulnerability is not weakness, but is in fact one of the bravest things you can be.

Recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Month opens up a space for these complex conversations. With the increasing prevalence of social media, children are exposed to more and more topics that may stir up difficult feelings and thoughts they aren’t yet old enough to process. Many schools and community groups across the country hold suicide prevention trainings for community members or raise money for suicide prevention organizations.

As attendance at these events grows, more people are made aware of the warning signs and risk factors of suicide and ways that can help family and friends around them who may be in crisis. These events may also encourage people who feel they need to seek professional help or community support to reach out.

Just as Suicide Prevention Month allows for more discussions about suicidal ideation and mental health in general, recognizing September as National Recovery Month helps to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction. There is an increasing availability of services for people struggling with addiction, such as medication assisted treatment for those with opioid use disorders or sober living communities for those in recovery from alcohol use.

Though it may be increasingly more possible for some to receive care, others face the stigma of addiction and may be afraid or unable to seek the care they believe they need. In September, organizations may launch awareness campaigns, host remembrance events, or promote fundraising efforts to help fund recovery programs. Attendance at these events helps community members see that people struggling with addiction are their neighbors and friends and helps to promote a sense of solidarity between those with substance use disorders and those who love them.

The Jason Foundation produces a number of suicide prevention trainings and resources for youth, adults and communities as a whole.

It focuses heavily on providing suicide prevention training throughout the year and find that demand for programs and events picks up exponentially leading up to September.

In addition to suicide prevention, The Jason Foundation is affiliated with many behavioral health facilities and medication assisted treatment centers across the country that do great work in their communities to promote National Recovery Month.

To find resources to plan a Suicide Prevention or Recovery Month event or want more information about affiliates in the area that may be hosting these events, visit the website at jasonfoundation.com. All programs and resources are available at no cost, as they strive to make these topics easily accessible. “Get involved in September’s mental health awareness and prevention efforts and together we can support our friends and loved ones in their time of need and reduce the stigma around mental health conversations,” The Jason Foundation said in a release.