09/01/2026
September is National Su***de Prevention Month.
In the Black community, conversations about su***de can be difficult, but silence does not protect us.
Our experiences with mental health can be layered. Racial trauma. Grief and loss. Family and generational trauma. Financial pressure. Discrimination. Violence. Caregiving. Workplace stress. The expectation to keep going, keep providing, keep showing up, and somehow remain “strong” through it all.
Sometimes, survival becomes so familiar that we don’t recognize how much we’re carrying.
And when someone is struggling with thoughts of su***de, shame, stigma, or fear of being judged can make it even harder to say, “I need help.”
This month, I want us to create more space in our communities for those words.
Space to talk about depression without calling it weakness.
Space to acknowledge trauma without minimizing it.
Space for Black men to be vulnerable.
Space for Black women to put down the expectation of always being strong.
Space for our young people to tell us when they’re not okay.
Space to ask someone directly, “Are you thinking about su***de?” and stay present enough to hear the answer.
Su***de prevention isn’t only about responding in a moment of crisis. It’s also about building communities where people feel seen, supported, connected, and safe enough to speak before they reach that moment.
Check on your people… and make room for the honest answer.
You do not have to have all the right words. Sometimes, “I’m here. I’m listening. You don’t have to carry this alone,” is where the conversation begins.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis in the U.S., call or text 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
***dePreventionMonth ***dePrevention
