Suicide Prevention Month

Together, we can make a difference.

Raising Awareness, Providing Support, and Ending Stigma

During Suicide Prevention Month in September, and throughout the year, Rutgers Health is dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and fostering a community of understanding and care. Suicide is preventable. Nine out of 10 people who attempt suicide will not go on to die by suicide. Additionally, suicide significantly affects healthcare workers, who face unique stressors and challenges in their profession. 

Join us in our mission to prevent suicide and support mental health for all members of our community. 

Our Commitment

Suicide affects us all. By raising awareness about its impact and knowing the facts, we can reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues and honor those we have lost. Rutgers Health is committed to providing access to comprehensive mental health resources, crisis intervention, and support services to ensure our faculty, staff, and learners never have to face challenges alone. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, due to a myriad of factors, healthcare workers have historically been at disproportionate risk of suicide. In a 2019 large-scale review of 60 studies, physicians were at a significant and increased risk of suicide, with female physicians facing an even higher risk.

Scholarship and Action

Rutgers researchers and experts are working every day to help expand our scientific knowledge of mental health and improve the well-being of our communities. Read about some of our recent efforts to better understand and prevent suicide.

Health

On the Front Lines of Suicide Prevention Stand Family and Friends

Health

Op-Ed: To prevent suicides, we must store firearms more securely

Research Awards

For Adults with HIV and AIDS, Rutgers Researchers Aim to Reduce Suicide Risk

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Increasing Trends Found in Suicidality and Bullying Across Race and Sexual Identity

Research & Innovation

How the Pandemic Impacted America’s Youth Mental Health Crisis

Research & Innovation

Who Military Service Members See as Credible to Discuss Secure Firearm Storage for Suicide Prevention

Resources are Available

If you or someone you know is struggling, call, text, or chat online with a specialist from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. They are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911.

Rutgers Health offers a wide range of resources for employees, students and trainees, to support your mental health, including crisis intervention services, counseling and therapy, peer supports, and support groups.

• Student health and wellness resources
• Employee well-being resources
• Peer support helpline for nurses
• Doc to Doc Together physician peer support hotline

How You Can Help

• Break the silence, save lives: Start conversations about mental health and suicide prevention and use destigmatizing language when talking about suicide.
• Be the hope: Spread awareness and offer support to those around you.
• Preventing tragedy: By raising awareness and providing support, we can save lives.
• Educate yourself: Learn more about mental health and suicide prevention with resources such as the preventing physician suicide report and medical student well-being toolkit from the American Medical Association.

2024 Event Highlights

Rutgers Health faculty, staff, learners and residents joined us throughout September for a variety of in-person and virtual events and activities designed to promote awareness, education, and community support. Highlights included discussion panels and workshops featuring open conversations about mental health and suicide prevention as well as training sessions on how to recognize warning signs and provide support to those in need, and a special community 5K run/walk on our Cook Campus to show support and spread awareness.