It is important that we assess the state of suicide and take a few moments to remind ourselves of the basic, and sometimes overlooked, steps we can take to help those at risk of suicide.
My heart was heavy when I learned that Arlana Miller, a freshman student athlete at my alma mater, Southern University, died by suicide earlier this year. Juno Pitchford, our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Engagement Manager here at NAMI immediately contacted me.
Blaming mental illness for gun violence only serves to further stigmatize and discriminate against people with mental health conditions who are more often the victims of violence than the cause of violence and further distracts from the real issues at hand in addressing this national crisis.