2023 Suicide Prevention Month – Recap

Suicide Prevention Month was pretty busy but worth every minute. I am the Program Manager and Veteran Liaison at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF).

September marks National Suicide Prevention Month – a month to remember the lives lost to suicide, the millions of people who have struggled with suicidal ideation, and acknowledge the individuals, families, and communities impacted. It is also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope.

OSPF Mission Statement

The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation champions, advocates, and coordinates strategies to reduce the risk of suicide and supports efforts to assist those individuals, families, and communities impacted by suicide.

2023 Suicide Prevention Month Activities

September 7

September 8

September 12

September 19

September 22

Where There’s Help, There’s Hope.

My role at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation:

Jason Hughes is the Program Manager and Veteran Liaison for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF). He is the Program Manager for the ARPA First Responder Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Instructor Training grant. This project aims to equip key first responder personnel with the confidence and competence needed to initiate conversations about suicide with colleagues, instill hope, and refer at-risk colleagues to appropriate mental and behavioral health resources.

He serves as the OSPF Veteran Liaison and co-leads the Ohio Governor’s Challenge Team, which aims to prevent suicide among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF). This team works closely with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Ohio Army National Guard, and the Ohio Department of Veterans Services.

After 22 years of service, he retired from the U.S. Army in 2019. He is a published author, a member of the Delaware County Suicide Prevention Coalition – Lethal Means Safety subcommittee, the Appalachian Ohio Suicide Prevention Alliance (Regional Group), a Life Side Ohio advisory committee member, a Frontline Freedom: Adventure Therapy board member, a certified VitalCog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace instructor, a QPR instructor, and a Star Behavioral Health Provider (SBHP) instructor.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 for free and confidential support 24/7

Things to consider about mental health:

1. 1 in 5 people will have a mental illness at some point. (CDC)
2. 1 and 25 have a serious mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.) (CDC)
3. 41% of people with a mental illness use mental health services in any given year. (National Council for Behavioral Health)
4. The effects of mental illness can be temporary or long-lasting. (Mayo Clinic)
5. Mental health stigma is an issue because of various reasons:
   • People make jokes about it.
   • People downplay it.
   • For military service members or veterans, the old-school myth: “Asking for help is a sign of weakness.”
   • People exaggerate by spreading false information like, “If your employer knows about your mental illness, your career is over.” The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects employees from discrimination based on a disability – including mental illnesses like depression or anxiety.

If you are having suicidal thoughts:

• Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
• Call your mental health specialist.
• Call a suicide hotline number – 988 (veterans press 1)
• National Suicide Prevention Line
• Seek help from your primary care provider.
• Reach out to a close friend or loved one.