Brookhaven Retreat®, LLC, a unique residential treatment facility exclusively for women with mental health and/or substance abuse issues, recognizes National Suicide Prevention Month by sharing suicide warning signs on September 4th. According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness, also known as NAMI, “suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and 90% of those who die by suicide have an underlying mental illness.” To help increase awareness of the issues around suicide prevention and promoting resources, the National Suicide Prevention Month is recognized nationally each September. World Suicide Prevention Day is also recognized on September 10th in correlation with National Suicide Prevention Month.
As part of The Lily Program®, a 90-day treatment for women offered exclusively at Brookhaven Retreat, clients and family members are educated on warning signs for suicide through therapies such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a treatment specifically designed for people with self-harm behaviors, suicidal ideation, and suicidal actions or attempts. Founder Jacqueline Dawes, says, “Early detection is key to saving lives. If we pay attention for those warning signs, we can more effectively treat a client with proper therapy that will help restore her physical and emotional strength, faith in herself and the determination not only to continue living, but to create a life worth living.”
To assist in early detection of suicidal thoughts and actions, Brookhaven Retreat shares Warning Signs and mnemonic for Suicide Prevention from the American Association of Suicidology: IS PATH WARM?
- I – Ideation
- S – Substance Abuse
- P – Purposelessness
- A – Anxiety
- T – Trapped
- H – Hopelessness
- W – Withdrawal
- A – Anger
- R – Recklessness
- M – Mood Changes
If these signs are recognized in someone known, Brookhaven Retreat recommends seeking immediate help. A mental health professional or primary care physician can provide appropriate guidelines. Help lines or hotlines are available to provide generalized referral resources and are easily located online or phone directory.
