September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to highlight the importance of looking out for one another. To help students learn to care for each other, junior counselor and wellness coordinator Sarai Cerano shared what students should do if they learn about someone’s struggles with suicidal thoughts.
“The biggest thing that you could do for someone who is hurting like that is give them support and know that they matter and that we care,” Cerano said.
Cerano explained that it can be difficult to tell if anyone is struggling with suicidal thoughts, whether they are the starting quarterback on the football team, star in the school play or class jokester.
“But you’d be surprised, they actually do have a lot of stuff going on,” Cerano said. “So depression and these symptoms look very different, and so we’re always as counselors, trying to do the best that we can to check in with all of you across the board.”
Cerano stressed the importance of checking in with friends, even those who seem fine on the surface. She mentioned that once people find hope during their struggles with suicidal thought, they are able to find the resources necessary to help them.
In the lowest moments of someone’s struggle with suicidal thoughts, they might have difficulties finding hope in their lives Cerano explained.
“I think a lot of times when people are suicidal, they’re thinking like, ‘it would be better if I wasn’t here, nobody would miss me,’” Cerano said. “So they’re having all of these thoughts, and it’s really hard for people to say that out loud.”
Cerano said it is still important to tell an adult if someone is contemplating suicide.
“They might get angry at you, but we’re talking about saving a life,” Cerano said. “Nine times out of 10, those students, your friends, who might be upset with you, could be mad at you, but in the long run, they’re like, ‘thank you for getting me the help that I needed.’”
Cerano said that as a whole the community has been helpful in reassuring students’ mental health.
“I’m very appreciative that we have a school community that’s in it together,” Cerano said. “We’re all tag teaming the suicidal awareness, what supports the system, what can we continue to put in place so that you all as students feel comfortable enough to come and see us and say, ‘I’m not okay.’”
If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. Reach out to a trusted adult, friend, or counselor. Help is always available.
