September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Awareness Day. World Suicide Prevention Day gives organizations, government agencies and individuals a chance to promote awareness about suicide, mental illnesses associated with suicide, as well as suicide prevention. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and World Health Organization (WHO) each play a key role in promoting this event.
Here in the CNMI, the entire month of September is dedicated to Suicide Prevention Month. The Garett Lee Smith or GLS Youth Suicide Prevention program focuses on providing intervention services to youth and young adults, ages 10 to 24. For individuals older than age 24, the Community Guidance Center is available to provide services.
The GLS program also provides training opportunities, including trainings for applied suicide intervention skills which includes education on how to recognize warning signs and risk factors. Look for information in the local newspapers for information on upcoming health fairs to be held over the next few weeks.
Located in Oleiai on Beach Road, call or email the GLS office at 664-5483 or cnmiglsysp@gmail.com.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.