Suicide Prevention Starts at Home: Notice the Pain, Create Connection and Make Our Homes Safer
September is Suicide Prevention Month—a time to remember that prevention is not only about what we do during a crisis. It is also about what we do every day to create safer homes, stronger connections, and a willingness to notice when someone we love is hurting.
For me, this subject is personal.
I lost two close friends to suicide in 2025. One of them died just one hour, the night before his birthday, and the other died the day after Thanksgiving. Those dates are difficult reminders that grief does not follow a calendar. Holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings can bring joy, but they can also magnify loneliness, grief, physical pain, financial stress, family struggles, or other difficulties that may not be visible to everyone around us.
I often think about what we can do differently, not because we can change what happened, but because perhaps something we do today could help someone tomorrow.
Notice more than the obvious signs
When we think about suicide prevention, we may picture someone saying they want to die. Sometimes that happens. But warning signs are not always that direct.
A person may talk about feeling hopeless, trapped, like a burden to others, or experiencing unbearable pain. They may withdraw from family and friends, experience significant changes in sleep or mood, become increasingly anxious or agitated, behave recklessly, or begin using more alcohol or drugs.
And there is something else we should pay attention to: physical pain.
Chronic illness, serious health conditions and ongoing physical pain can affect a person's emotional well-being. Someone who repeatedly says, "I can't live like this anymore," "I'm tired of hurting," or "I just want the pain to stop" deserves our attention.
We should not assume that someone is simply complaining or having a bad day.
Ask. Listen. Stay.
You do not need to have the perfect words. You can start with:
"You don't seem like yourself lately. How are you really doing?
"You've been dealing with a lot of pain. How are you coping?
"I'm worried about you. Do you feel safe right now?
"Are you thinking about suicide?"
Asking someone directly about suicide does not put the idea into their head. It can create an opportunity for an honest conversation and help connect someone to support.
Prevention also means making our homes safer
As a Poison Control professional, I think about prevention from a slightly different perspective.
Sometimes prevention means recognizing that when someone is in a moment of crisis, creating time and distance between that person and potentially dangerous items can matter.
That means taking a look around our homes—not because we assume someone in our family will attempt suicide, but because we want our homes to be as safe as possible.
Secure medications
Medications should be stored securely, particularly medications that could cause serious harm if taken incorrectly or in large amounts.
Consider:
Keeping prescription and over-the-counter medications locked and secured.
Avoiding leaving medications on countertops, in purses, backpacks or other easily accessible places.
Keep track of medications in the home.
Properly disposing of medications that are no longer needed.
Paying particular attention when someone in the household is experiencing a mental health crisis.
Poison Control recommends safe medication storage, and the CDC specifically recommends securely storing prescriptions as part of suicide prevention. Simply putting medications out of sight or out of reach is not the same as secure storage.
And remember over-the-counter medications count, too. Pain relievers, cold medicines, and other common household medications are still medications and should be treated with care.
If you suspect someone has taken too much medication or another potentially poisonous substance, don't wait for symptoms to appear. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for immediate, confidential guidance.
Secure firearms
If firearms are present in your home, secure them appropriately.
The CDC recommends securely storing firearms, and suicide prevention guidance encourages families to reduce access to lethal means, particularly when someone is experiencing an elevated risk.
Safe storage can include keeping firearms locked and secured and ensuring that unauthorized people cannot access them.
This isn't about assuming someone will use a firearm to hurt themselves. It is about creating a barrier during a potentially dangerous moment.
Pay attention to alcohol and other substances
Alcohol can change judgment and lower inhibitions. Increased alcohol or drug use can also be a warning sign that someone is struggling.
This is particularly important during holidays and family gatherings.
If you are hosting Thanksgiving, Christmas, a birthday or another gathering, think about the people coming into your home—not just the food and decorations.
If someone who is struggling will be visiting:
Keep medications secure.
Keep firearms secure.
Pay attention to alcohol consumption.
Don't leave someone who is significantly intoxicated and struggling alone.
Check in with people who seem unusually withdrawn, upset or overwhelmed.
Have a plan for getting someone home safely.
If you're concerned about someone, stay connected rather than assuming someone else will notice.
And remember that visitors may bring medications, firearms, or other potentially dangerous items into your home. Have a safe place for medications and other items to be stored when guests arrive.
Prevention sometimes looks like a simple conversation before the party begins.
Don't wait for a crisis to check on someone
One of the most important things we can do is make checking on people normal.
Call the friend who has been unusually quiet.
Text the family member who has been dealing with chronic pain.
Sit with the person who recently experienced a divorce, job loss, death or other major life change.
Check on the person who always says, "I'm fine."
And don't forget the people who appear to have everything together.
We don't always know what someone is carrying.
Suicide prevention is not the responsibility of one person, one profession, or one organization. It happens in homes, schools, workplaces, healthcare settings, faith communities, and neighborhoods. SAMHSA emphasizes that prevention includes connection, recognizing warning signs, creating safety plans, and reducing access to lethal means.
Sometimes the most important thing we can give someone is time
I can't go back and change what happened to my two friends.
I can't change the day on the calendar.
I can't change that one of them should have been celebrating his birthday the following day or that the other should have been spending Thanksgiving weekend with the people who loved him.
But I can remember them.
And I can talk about prevention.
I can remind people that pain deserves to be noticed—even when it is physical pain.
I can remind families that locking up medications and firearms is not an overreaction.
I can remind friends to make the phone call.
I can remind all of us that asking, "Are you okay?" is not enough if we aren't willing to stop and listen to the answer.
And I can remind people that needing help does not make them a burden.
If you are worried about someone
If you believe someone may be in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
If someone is struggling, experiencing emotional distress or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You do not have to wait until someone is at the point of attempting suicide to reach out.
If you suspect a poisoning or medication overdose, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides free, confidential guidance.
Prevention starts before the crisis.
Notice the pain.
Start the conversation.
Secure the medications.
Secure the firearms.
Watch for changes.
Stay connected.
And most importantly, don't be afraid to ask someone if they are thinking about suicide.
Sometimes being willing to ask—and willing to stay—can make all the difference.
