Connection is Suicide Prevention
You may not always know what someone is experiencing. A check-in, a listening ear, a number shared at the right moment, can make a real difference. Suicide prevention starts with connection…and knowing where you can get help.
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to pause and remember that you don’t need to have all the answers to make a difference in someone’s mental health journey.
Start a Conversation. Be the Difference.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) acknowledges that suicide is often met with silence, stigma or shame, and they believe that silence should never be the response to someone’s pain. With one conversation, asking someone how they’re doing and being ready to truly listen can save lives.
When a suicide-related crisis occurs, friends and family are often caught off-guard, unprepared and unsure of what to do. The behaviors of a person experiencing a crisis can be unpredictable, changing dramatically without warning. There are a few ways to approach a suicide-related crisis:
- Talk openly and honestly
- Remove means such as guns, knives or stockpiled pills
- Don’t argue, threaten or raise your voice
- Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong
- Be patient
Suicidal behaviors are a psychiatric emergency. If you or a loved one starts to take any of these steps, seek immediate help from a health care provider or call 988 to reach the Suicide & Criss Lifeline:
- Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
- Giving away possessions
- Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
- Saying goodbye to friends and family
Like any other health emergency, it’s important to address a mental health crisis quickly and effectively.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call/text 988 or open a chat at 988lifeline.org to immediately connect to a counselor. Conversations are free, confidential, and available 24/7/365.
- NAMI Help Line – A free, confidential nationwide service that provides one-on-one emotional support, mental health information and resources. Call 800.950.NAMI (6264), text NAMI to 62640 or email HelpLine@NAMI.org.
- NAMI Teen & Young Adult Help Line – A free, confidential nationwide peer-support service. Call 800.950.NAMI (6264), text FRIEND to 62640, or email HelpLine@NAMI.org.
- NAMI Family Caregiver Help Line – A free, confidential service providing caregiver-led support, tool and strategies, trusted guidance, and connection at every stage of the caregiving journey.
Rula Mental Health Network Resources
Olympic Steel joined the Rula Mental Health Network in 2025, through our Anthem medical coverage. All employees and family members can connect with licensed therapists and psychiatric providers covered by insurance, including coverage through a spouse’s or family member’s plan. Rula patients pay an average of $15 per session with insurance* and many providers offer virtual appointments as soon as the next day.
Find care with Rula at rula.com/olympicsteel. And browse additional content in the Rula blog, a resource for patients and providers, offering mental health expert insights and guidance.
*Rula will provide you with a personalized cost estimate before you first appointment.
