Together, we can make a difference to #stopsuicide

Column by Crystal Graham

Suicide is one of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, and it’s preventable. Nine out of 10 people who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental health condition, like depression, at the time of their death. Together, we can help people who struggle to seek help, improve the quality of their lives, and stop this tragic loss of life.

I serve on the state board of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to raise awareness and teach our communities ways all of us can help to prevent suicide. From learning the risks and warning signs of suicide, to having an honest conversation with a loved one about seeking mental health help, we are dedicated to bringing people together to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

I will be traveling to Washington, D.C. next month to tell my members of Congress how important this issue is to me. It is important to me because it affected me directly – my identical twin sister died by suicide 24 years ago.

Please take five minutes right now to call your U.S. Representative and Senators at 202-224-3121, and tell them to make mental health a national priority and to fund suicide prevention research today.

Join me in this fight to #stopsuicide. Together we can make a difference.

Crystal Graham is the vice president of Augusta Free Press. She is also the co-chair of the Greater Augusta Out of the Darkness Walk on October 8 and serves as secretary of the state chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She has also completed the ASIST Suicide Prevention Intervention training offered by LivingWorks.