September is Suicide Awareness Month

Editor’s note: September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. This article will include frank writing about suicide. Please take care of yourself.

Several weeks ago, an editorial was written about suicide, offering prevention training provided through Proactive Reduction Of Suicides in Populations via Evidence-based Research (PROSPER). These training courses have been made available for free by Governor Mark Gordon’s office. Following that article, there were three probable suicides in the Big Horn Basin that week. This spurs the need to write further articles with some things the community can do to help this epidemic.

Suicide is often a social issue rather than a mental health issue, according to Dr. Lesley Manson of PROSPER. Many people who attempt suicide don’t want to die; they instead want their problems to resolve that are causing them so much pain. Pain resulting from loss, grief, financial issues, family conflicts, addiction, transitions and more. These are, for the most part, social issues the community can help with, if not resolve.

One of the ways the community can prevent suicide is by talking openly and honestly about it. Helping neighbors who may be having thoughts of suicide or death just as if they were experiencing a physical health crisis may be the most impactful. Having a friend come do the dishes, a load of laundry or just provide company while they navigate the day are things the community can show up for in a physical crisis, but they can also show up for a mental health crisis.

Connectedness is key, and in small communities, this can be a superpower or a curse. Wyoming often has a motto of “live and let live” … but this motto has led the state to consistently be in the top two states with the highest number of deaths by suicide in the nation. There is no way to “cowboy up” and expect these statistics to change.

Tamara Brown Adey is surviving the death of her son Jacob, who died by suicide in 2020. While we may think of September as suicide prevention month, it is also a month for suicide awareness. 

“Losing someone to suicide is sometimes so hard to explain,” Adey said. “There are so many questions, anger, guilt and always thinking what could I have done different to help. I know I will never get over the loss of losing him, but I have come to live day by day.” 

In 2025 Adey adopted her son’s children, which eases some pain. However, that comes with a lot of questions from them about their father, Jacob. They were only 2, 4, and 6 when Jacob died from suicide.

“They will grow up knowing their dad even though he isn’t with us,” Adey said.

Adey has decided to take part for the first time in the Out of the Darkness Walk in Billings September 20 at 2 p.m. Noted Adey, “If you can, we would appreciate all the help we can get for T-shirts, apparel, and if interested, we would love for you to join.” 

Local mental health provider Ali Wagner MSN, APRN, FNP-C, said, “I would like people to understand that it doesn’t take someone special to help prevent suicide. Suicide prevention looks like saying hello to a stranger in the grocery store, checking in on an elderly neighbor or even just a smile at someone who looks like they are having a rough day. Those of us trained in mental health have some extra tools in our toolbox yes, but the thing that someone needs most when they are struggling is an anchor to help them wait out the storm. We can choose to be the anchor that someone needs.”

As community members there are several other things to look for and that can be done to help those experiencing suicidal ideation, methods that have been proven to work after decades of research. Crisis Readiness Plans are a good example. These can be used in a variety of situations, not just to prevent suicide. Imagine that at every family fight you asked, “What are your warning signs? What self-management skills can you deploy if you have those signs? Who can you talk to about all of this? What are your reasons for staying a part of this family?” It’s that easy. This can also be applied to someone thinking about death or suicide.

Asking direct questions when there has been a noticeable difference in a person’s baseline behavior and attitude has proven to be very effective. A change in baseline is just that. If your child suddenly appears at 6 a.m. waking you up to tell you they love you when their baseline is the aloof teenager, as they usually are, that is a change in baseline. These changes can be seen as positive or negative, but they are a change. If your outgoing, active best friend has ghosted you and you haven’t seen their car move in a week, that is a change in baseline. Both are examples that deserve consideration and conversation.

Having resources available if the answer to the direct question of “Are you thinking about dying or suicide?” is “yes” or asking questions like “What are your reasons for living?” are proven ways to prevent suicide. Calling 988 with a person who is thinking of suicide, because after all, calling a stranger in such a delicate state, can’t be easy and is another method.

Most residents of the Big Horn basin know someone who has died by suicide. Most residents have been to the funerals of people who have died by suicide. The resounding thing heard from people touched by suicide is, “If I had only known, I would have…” 

Asking the questions, responding with compassion rather than judgement, reaching out for help when the answers aren’t readily available or calling 988 with someone struggling are all things that have, after decades of research, proven to help. These are all things that community members, teachers, parents, coaches and clergy can do. One of the most resounding things survivors of suicide attempts state is that “no one asked me if I was suicidal.” Lives can be saved with this one question and some follow-up questions that result in a plan for living rather than dying. 

Wagner also wants the community to know that there are same day crisis appointments available at the clinic if needed and as always, the Emergency Department is also available. PROSPER has many more training courses available in Wyoming for free. They can be found at https://www.prospertogether.net/wyoming.

Additional Resources

If you have been affected by suicide and would like assistance here are some additional resources that are available to you. Many of these are also appropriate for school aged children who have been impacted by the death of someone due to suicide. 

WY We Care Survivors Campaign: https://www.prospertogether.net/real-wyoming-stories.
SAMHSA’s After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools: https://www.samhsa.gov/resource/ebp/after-suicide-toolkit-schools-second....

Suicide Prevention Resource Center — Immediate and Long-Term Postvention:
https://sprc.org/effective-prevention/a-comprehensive-approach-to-suicid....