Every day — at your workplace, in your community, in your school and perhaps in your home — there are people living in hope and recovery from a mental health concern.
According to the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, for every one person who dies by suicide annually, there are another 280 people who have thought seriously about suicide and nearly 60 who have survived a suicide attempt.
The overwhelming majority of these individuals go on to lead productive lives. These untold stories of hope and recovery are the success stories of suicide prevention.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
All month, mental health advocates, behavioral health professionals, agencies and government officials will be sharing information to promote suicide awareness and how to #BeThe1To help.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and their allies — like the Methodist Healthcare Employee Assistance Program — are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention. We are promoting actions that lead to healing, help and hope.
These five action steps for communicating with someone who may be suicidal can be a pathway to help others seek consultation from trained providers (hotlines and clinicians) and to seek hospital care when necessary.
1 — Ask
2 — Keep them safe
3 — Be there
4 — Help them connect
5 — Follow up
The more that we discuss mental health issues, the more comfortable we become with understanding that our own mental health and the mental health of others is simply part of overall health.
At Methodist Healthcare EAP, we want to #BeThe1To help people in need of a supportive space to heal and hope. We invite you to join us and #BeThe1To ask the questions and provide hope and healing for your loved ones, your coworkers and your community. We can do this together!
If you would like to discuss suicide awareness and prevention, or any other important mental health topic please call the Methodist Healthcare Employee Assistance Program at 901-683-5658 for your free, confidential appointment.
Donna DiClementi, LCSW, CEAP
Director, Methodist Healthcare Employee Assistance Program
Donna DiClementi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for and a Certified Employee Assistance Professional. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Employee Assistance Professional Association, and the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. She earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y., and a master’s degree in social work from New York University.
As director of the Methodist Healthcare EAP, Donna manages contracts for employers throughout the Mid-South. She has an extensive background in crisis response, having developed crisis programs and hospital-based critical incident stress management teams.
Prior to her current position, Donna managed a successful private practice in New Jersey and Connecticut, worked as a hospital-based psychiatric and medical social worker, managed other hospital- based EAP’s and was an associate professor of human services.
She enjoys time with family and friends, reading, cooking, cultural events, and outdoor activities.