Trigger Warning ⚠️ mentions su*cide
September 1st marks the beginning of both Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and National Self-Care Awareness Month. Two important reminders that we need to pay attention not only to the people around us, but to ourselves as well.
September can be an overwhelming month for many. Summer coming to an end, routines changing, kids heading back to school, work picks up, and for those in the Jewish community, the High Holidays are just around the corner, and for me, who works in a Synagogue, this time of year is insanely hectic.
This summer has been an incredibly difficult one for me. Since my accident, I’ve been navigating pain, uncertainty, physical healing and the emotional aftermath of trauma. And, if I’m being completely honest, my thoughts of suicide have become more difficult to push aside at times.
That’s not always easy for me to say out loud. But that’s exactly why awareness matters so much.
Self-care isn’t always bubble baths, exercise or taking a day off. Sometimes self-care is admitting, “I’m not okay.” It’s asking for help. It’s telling someone what you’re feeling. It’s taking a breath and giving yourself permission to stop pretending that everything is fine.
And sometimes, self-care can quite literally mean staying alive.
There is a beautiful Jewish concept called pikuach nefesh, the preservation of human life. It reminds us that our lives matter, that asking for help is not a weakness, and that there is always value in reaching out when we’re struggling.
So as September begins, let’s check in with ourselves and with the people we love. Ask the hard questions. Listen without judgment. Make the phone call. Take the pause.
You never know whose life you might be helping to save, including your own.
**If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please don’t face them alone. In Canada or US, call or text 988 for immediate crisis support.
#SuicidePreventionAwarenessMonth #NationalSelfCareAwarenessMonth #youareenough
YouAreEnough 