Suicide Prevention Month 2026: Practical Support for Suicide Risk

Current Year Highlight | 2026

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and September 10 marks World Suicide Prevention Day. 2026 marks the final year of the global theme Changing the Narrative on Suicide, calling for more open and honest conversations about suicide and suicidal behavior.

At The Anxious Owl, changing the narrative also means making room for the thoughts and experiences that often go unspoken. Not every thought about death sounds like “I want to die,” and we cannot always know what someone is experiencing simply by looking at them.

This year, I created a short video exploring some of the thoughts people may keep to themselves, dismiss, or struggle to understand. Sometimes, changing the narrative starts with getting curious about what is happening beneath the surface.

Watch the video: Hey... | YouTube Short

Past Years Archive

• 2025 – Changing the Narrative on Suicide → Creating Hope Through Action

• 2024 – Changing the Narrative on Suicide → Embracing the Uncomfortable

• 2023 – Creating Hope Through Action → ISAP & World Health Organization

• 2022 – Creating Hope Through Action → World Health Organization & Pan American Health Organization

Free Suicide Prevention Resources

This September, I have put together resources to help you or someone you care about find hope and grounding:

• Mindfulness Practices: Simple, guided exercises to calm the body and mind.

• Crisis Response Plan Toolkit: A practical 5-step plan to organize coping strategies, warning signs, reasons for living, social connections, and contacts. (Adapted from the Crisis Response Plan by Dr. Craig J. Bryan and Dr. M. David Rudd)

All resources are designed to be accessible, practical, and immediately useful.

Honoring STRIVE and My Clinical Training in Suicide Risk Reduction

My journey as a suicide prevention specialist was deeply shaped by my time with the Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative for Veterans (STRIVE). STRIVE first began in 2012 as the National Center for Veterans Studies (NCVS) in Utah. In 2020, it moved to The Ohio State University, where the STRIVE Clinic continues to grow and serve.

During my time at STRIVE, I had the privilege of working directly with Dr. Craig J. Bryan and his remarkable research and clinical team. The training I received there was intense, evidence-driven, and life-changing. It gave me the solid foundation I carry into every therapy session today and continues to guide how I walk alongside clients struggling with thoughts of suicide.

The STRIVE Clinic specializes in Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (BCBT). This treatment has been proven to reduce suicide attempts and is supported by decades of research, most recently confirmed again in 2024 and 2025. Veterans dealing with suicidal thoughts or PTSD may qualify for this therapy. It is often at no cost and allows participants to directly contribute to ongoing research that saves and improves lives every day.

Learn more about STRIVE at The Ohio State University

I remain a strong supporter of STRIVE’s mission and its vision for the future. In the months ahead, STRIVE will begin building a new program to streamline services for military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their families. I am proud to carry this legacy forward in my own practice, ensuring that the best of what we know from science and clinical care reaches those who need it most.

How You Can Get Involved

• Share these resources with someone who may need them.

• Reach out to a loved one and check in.

• Connect with me if you are seeking therapy or professional collaboration.

Together, we can create a ripple of hope and support that makes life more livable for those in pain.

If You Are in Crisis

If you are in immediate danger or thinking of harming yourself, please dial 988 in the U.S. to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are outside the U.S., please call your local emergency number. You are not alone.