Let’s Talk About It: Suicide Awareness Month & the Power of Support

September Matters More Than You Think

Let’s be real for a moment—no one really wants to talk about suicide. It’s heavy, it’s uncomfortable, and sometimes we don’t know what to say. But here’s the truth: not talking about it is far more dangerous than saying the wrong thing.

That’s why September, Suicide Awareness Month, is so important. It’s not about putting up a hashtag and calling it good. It’s about having the conversations that could change someone’s life. It’s about being brave enough to ask, “Are you okay?”—and sticking around for the real answer.

At Birchwood Therapeutic Services, we believe in meeting hard topics with care, compassion, and real solutions. That means addressing what leads to suicide, how to recognize the signs, and what kind of mental health support actually helps.

First, Let’s Ditch the Myths

Suicide doesn’t always look like what people think it does. It doesn’t always come with a dramatic warning. It doesn’t always leave a note. It doesn’t discriminate. It affects teenagers, adults, veterans, parents, healthcare workers, students, and professionals alike.

And one of the most damaging myths? That talking about suicide somehow encourages it. This is false. Studies show that when we bring the topic into the open, people feel seen—and feeling seen is one of the most powerful antidotes to suicidal thoughts.

What Mental Health Counseling Really Offers

Therapy isn’t just something you turn to in crisis. In fact, it works best when you seek it before things fall apart.

At Birchwood, we help clients who are dealing with:

• Chronic sadness or numbness

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Trauma and unresolved pain

• Mood swings or emotional exhaustion

• Hopelessness, isolation, or suicidal thoughts

  
  

Our mental health counseling approach is supportive, nonjudgmental, and built around helping you understand your emotions, learn tools for coping, and reconnect with your sense of worth.

If you’ve ever felt like things are just getting too heavy—or if you’ve watched someone you love pull away—therapy isn’t admitting defeat. It’s choosing to fight for your future.

Why Behavioral Therapy Is So Effective

When it comes to preventing suicide, behavioral therapy is one of the most effective tools available. Why? Because it doesn’t just treat the symptoms. It helps people rebuild the core of how they think, behave, and respond to life’s stressors.

At Birchwood, we use evidence-based methods like:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): To help identify and shift negative thought patterns.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): To teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): To help individuals take meaningful action even in the presence of pain.

  
  

We tailor treatment plans to the person in front of us—not a textbook diagnosis. That’s the beauty of behavioral therapy—it treats the human, not just the symptoms.

Suicide Prevention Is a Local Issue

Suicide doesn’t just affect big cities or certain populations. It’s here, too. And in our part of the country—Minnesota and North Dakota—the need for support is especially urgent.

North Dakota consistently ranks among the top states for suicide rates per capita. And mental health support in Minnesota, particularly in rural areas, can be hard to access for those who need it most.

That’s why Birchwood is committed to offering therapeutic services in North Dakota and mental health support in Minnesota with real, local impact. We serve our communities with licensed therapists, online options, and accessible care—because no one should feel alone in their struggle.

What to Watch For: Warning Signs of Suicide

You don’t need to be a therapist to spot the signs that someone is struggling. You just need to pay attention.

Here are some signs that may indicate a person is at risk:

• Talking about wanting to die or feeling like a burden

• Withdrawing from friends, family, or responsibilities

• Drastic changes in mood, personality, or energy

• Unexplained or sudden calmness after deep sadness

• Giving away belongings or making final arrangements

• Increase in substance use

  
  

And sometimes, there are no obvious signs. Which is why checking in—genuinely and regularly—matters more than you know.

What to Say (And What Not To)

This is where many people freeze. You know someone’s hurting, but you don’t know what to say.

You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to show up.

Here are some supportive phrases to start a conversation:

• “You don’t have to go through this alone.”

• “I’ve noticed you’ve been distant lately. Want to talk?”

• “You matter to me, and I’m here for you.”

• “Would you be open to seeing a therapist? I can help you find one.”

  
  

Avoid phrases like:

• “You’re overreacting.”

• “It could be worse.”

• “You have so much to be grateful for.”

  
  

People who are struggling aren’t looking for silver linings. They’re looking for safety, for connection, for permission to feel.

The Power of Connection

One of the most consistent findings in suicide prevention research? Social connection saves lives.

Feeling deeply connected to even one person can significantly lower a person’s risk of suicide. This means every conversation matters. Every cup of coffee. Every “I’m here if you need me.”

And when someone needs more than a friend can provide? That’s where therapeutic services come in.

We’re here for the times when love and support aren’t enough on their own. We’re here when someone needs professional guidance, a trained ear, and a safe space to unravel the heaviness.

If You’re the One Struggling

If you’re reading this and thinking, this sounds familiar—this part is for you.

You don’t need to wait for things to get “bad enough.” You don’t need to push through on your own. You don’t need to carry the weight of everything while pretending it’s fine.

Therapy is not for broken people. It’s for brave people. People who are willing to look their pain in the eye and say, “You don’t get the last word.”

At Birchwood, we offer:

• One-on-one mental health counseling

• Trauma-informed care

• Behavioral therapy tailored to your needs

• Virtual and in-person sessions in North Dakota and Minnesota

  
  

Getting help doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human. And humans are worth helping.

Suicide Prevention Looks Like This

Want to know what suicide prevention really looks like? It’s not just a hotline number or a month of awareness posts.

It looks like:

• Making therapy normal and accessible

• Offering mental health days in workplaces

• Talking openly with our kids about emotions

• Creating school and community spaces where asking for help is safe

• Prioritizing emotional health alongside physical health

  
  

And yes—it looks like blogs like this one. It looks like you reading this. It looks like choosing to care.

A Message to the “Strong Ones”

We need to say this clearly: being the strong one doesn’t mean you’re not struggling.

If you’re the one people lean on, the one who holds it all together, the one who always says “I’m fine”—you still deserve support. Maybe especially so.

Therapeutic services aren’t just for those in visible crisis. They’re for the tired. The overextended. The ones who give and give until there’s nothing left.

You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t need permission to ask for help. You’re allowed to need someone, too.

Normalizing Therapy, Once and For All

At Birchwood, we’re on a mission to make therapy just as normal as getting your annual check-up. Because it should be.

Therapy is not a luxury. It’s a tool. A safe space. A path toward wholeness.

Our clinicians are here to offer mental health support in Minnesota and therapeutic services in North Dakota that meet you where you’re at—whether that’s climbing out of a dark place or simply learning how to manage your stress.

No shame. No labels. Just support that makes sense.

Final Thoughts

Talking about suicide won’t cause it. Ignoring it might.

This month, let’s do more than raise awareness. Let’s raise compassion. Let’s start more conversations. Let’s be the kind of people who notice, who ask, who follow up, and who make therapy feel normal.

And if someone you love is struggling, or if you are, we want you to remember this:

You are not alone. You are not too much. And it is never too late to ask for help.

If You Need Help Right Now

If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

For long-term care and support, Birchwood is here for you.

Reach out through our website or give us a call. We’ll help you take the next right step—because healing is possible, and help is closer than you think.