Individual Counseling for National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

If individual counseling is what you are seeking, it’s available at Take Charge, Inc., in Overland Park, Kansas. We are recognizing September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

• Did you know every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide?
• On average, 129 Americans die through suicide every day.
• Suicide is the 12^th leading cause of death in the United States

Individual counseling at Take Charge, Inc. provides a safe, comfortable environment that allows you to put your thoughts and feelings into words, without fear of criticism or judgment.

With individual counseling, we work together to deal with the external obstacles, social attitudes or your own internal barriers that stand in your way of betting yourself. The World Federation for Mental Health has invited everyone to participate in suicide awareness by taking “40 seconds of action” to gain knowledge on the severity of suicide worldwide and the role we can play in preventing it.

If your friend or family member struggles with suicidal ideation, let them know that they can talk with you about what they’re going through. Try active listening techniques such as reflecting their feelings and summarizing their thoughts – this can help your loved one feel heard and validated.   Ask the person you care about “Are you thinking about suicide?” or “Are you thinking of hurting yourself?” 

Learn the terminology:

• Suicide: when people harm themselves with the goal of ending their life, and they die as a result.
• Suicide attempt: a non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior. A suicide attempt might not result in injury. (Experts suggest avoiding terms like “failed suicide” or “successful suicide,” which perpetuate negative stigmas.)
• Suicidal ideation: refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.

Another helpful language tip is to use the phrase “died by suicide,” instead of “committed suicide” when talking about someone who lost their life

Because each person is unique, there is no single reason why someone has suicidal thoughts. However, there are links between other trauma and suicidal ideation. The Adverse Childhood Experience Study (ACE Study) is a vital study that shows the clear link between trauma and addiction. This study looked at the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) and the health or social problems they experienced as an adult. This study shows that these childhood experiences are vastly more common than previously thought, and these adverse experiences have a consequential negative impact on adult health. Almost two-thirds (64%) of suicide attempts among adults were attributable to these childhood experiences. 80% of suicide attempts during childhood or adolescence were attributed to ACEs as well. Individual counseling is needed in these situations to delve into the origin of the issue, allowing the patient to heal these deep-rooted traumas.

Individual counseling helps us to identify our automatic thinking, address our emotions, understand our body while learning new skills for finding solutions to our problems rather than avoiding them. Whether you or someone you care about is having a hard time, it’s important if you are suicidal to get the help you need. Call 988 or or text the Crisis Text Line (741-741).

For more information about individual counseling in Johnson County, KS, call Take Charge, Inc. at (913) 239-8255. Or to schedule an appointment, click here.