September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In 2018 suicide was the second leading cause of death in ages 10-24. Each day the United States alone there are over 3,000 suicide attempts. If you need help people are here for you. You can reach out and talk to a school counselor, trusted adult, trusted friend, and even a hotline. I caught up with our newest counselor at Saint Joe and asked her about her thoughts on suicide.

Here is what Mrs. Enck said : Reach out to your friends and loved ones often to check in with them. If someone says, “I’m fine”, it could be masking a whole jar of emotions and thoughts that they are constantly sealing up with a lid. Tell them that they are not a burden and that you want to listen. Sometimes just being an active listener for someone can make the biggest impact.