September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.  According to 2018 statistics, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. with an estimated 1.4 million attempts annually.  While no definitive data has been released, experts speculate that the COVID-19 pandemic has only caused these numbers to rise.  Intense feelings of anxiety, fear, frustration, sadness and loneliness may create or worsen mental health conditions, particularly during a pandemic, which can add or intensify a variety of stressors, including but not limited to: fear of illness, grief over the loss of a loved one, social isolation, and concerns related to workplace safety and/or job security.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or other ideations/actions of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24-hours/day at: 800-273-8255.

Additional local and national resources can be found via the links below:

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/

• Black mental health resources in Philly: https://www.phillymag.com/be-well-philly/2020/06/09/black-mental-health-resources-philadelphia/ 

• Resources for LGBTQIA folx in Philly: https://healthymindsphilly.org/en/lgbtqia-resources/   

Last year, PWRFC supported the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by raising money and participating in their Out of the Darkness Community Walk.  This year, we are doing our part to raise awareness by posting resources and stories on our blog, social media, and in our biweekly newsletter.  Friends and supporters of PWRFC who would like for us to share their suicide-related story on our social media platforms are encouraged to reach out to community@pwrfc.org for more info and next steps.